RICE

Oryza sativa. That is the botanical name of the world’s second most popular cereal after maize, rice. To the average Nigerian, it needs no introduction because it has become one of the most important foods in the country, consumed by both the wealthy and the poor. This position was attained largely on account of its steady demand by the Nigerian populace for both domestic and commercial consumption.

Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa or Oryzaglaberrima. As a cereal grain, it is the most widely consumed staple food for a large part of the world’s human population, especially in Asia.

Nutrition Facts

Rice, white, long-grain, cooked

Amount Per: 100 grams

Calories: 130

Total Fat : 0.3 g

Total Carbohydrate: 28 g

Protein: 2.7 g

The amount of money set aside for rice importation, if redirected into the improvement of rice production such as supporting both small scale and large scale rice cultivation and milling of rice grown in Nigeria to meet international standards like its rivals from other countries would enable Nigeria meet its rice demand and maybe exporting rice to neighboring countries in a couple of years from now. The country needs to Oryza sativa. That is the botanical name of the world’s second most popular cereal after maize, rice. To the average Nigerian, it needs no introduction because it has become one of the most important foods in the country, consumed by both the wealthy and the poor. This position was attained largely on account of its steady demand by the Nigerian populace for both domestic and commercial consumption. boost local production of rice in major cultivation areas like Sokoto, Ogun, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Niger, Kogi and the rest of the states in the country.

Some Varieties Of Rice Grown In Nigeria

Indigenous red grain specie (Oryzaglaberrina)

• Fadama rice
• Upland rice
• Lowland rice

Processes Involved In Rice Production

There are numerous varieties of rice that can be cultivated in Nigeria. The process involved in rice cultivation depends on the geographical and ecological factors available. That is to say different varieties thrive in different geographical and ecological zones in Nigeria. For the purpose of this publication, I would explain the processes involved in the cultivation of Lowland rice in Nigeria extracted from IITA’s growing lowland rice in Nigeria.

Choice Of Land

Choose fertile land with a moderately high water holding-capacity. Heavy soils characteristic of river valleys and Fadamas are preferred. Lands with clayey soils are considered most desirable.

Land Preparation

Paddy fields can be prepared under either dry or wetland conditions; the choice depends on time of operation, soil properties and implements to be used. In either case, the field should be disc plowed immediately after harvest in November/December to expose the rhizomes of perennial weeds to scorching action of the sun. For direct seeded rice, the field is harrowed just before the first rain, and the crop is seeded. For wet or transplanted rice, the field is flooded with the first rains. In the absence of ploughs, make heaps at the onset of first rains for weed control. Construct bunds and cover the paddy field with water to prevent the loss of nitrogen through denitrification.

Time Of Planting

Plant in May/June when the rains are firmly established. Planting should be early (by the end of June) in flood-prone, waterlogged, and gall midge-attached areas.

Seed rate Direct sowing needs 55–65 kg/ha grain; raising seedlings to transplanting needs 45 kg/ha grain.

Planting

Direct Seeding

This is possible in hydromorphic areas by broadcasting or dibbling. Divide the field into plots of 50 m² or 100 m², and construct small bunds. Weeds are the major problem. Apply herbicides to control them. in dibbling, the spacing should be 20–25 cm between rows and 15–20 cm between plants. Direct seeding can be done with pregerminated seeds in wet soils.

Nursery Raising

Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours. Spread them on the floor and incubate them by covering them with polyethylene bags for 48 hours for the seeds to sprout. To provide seedlings for 1 ha of land, raise the nursery in 500 m2 (1/20 acre).

Spread the sprouted seeds uniformly on a puddled nursery field. Drain excess water from the field for a week. Ensure that seed beds are raised in high rainfall areas. Avoid bird damage during germination by scaring birds. In gall midge affected areas, apply FuradanTM (Carbofuran) at 1 kg/ha in nursery beds a week before uprooting.

Transplanting

Transplant seedlings from nursery after 21 days. This is done by uprooting the seedlings. Transplant 2–3 seedlings per hill. Spacing should be 20 cm between rows and 15–20cm between plants. Transplant early maturing varieties 15 cm apart and transplant medium and late maturing varieties 20 cm apart.

Gap Filling:

Gap fill the areas where seeds have not germinated 7–10 days after transplanting. Use remaining seedlings.

Water Management

Maintain the level of water in the field up to 5cm one week after transplanting until grain matures. Drain the water a week before harvesting. Cracks should not be seen in the field.

Fertilizer rate and time of application

TALL LODGING INDICA VARIETIES

FIRST APPLICATION: Apply broadcast, 200 kg (4 bags) of NPK 15:15:15 14 days after transplanting.

SECOND APPLICATION: Apply broadcast 100 kg/ha (12 bags) of urea at ear initiation.

IMPROVED NON-LODGING VARIETIES

FIRST APPLICATION: Apply 200 kg/ha (4 bags) of NPK 15:15:15 thoroughly puddle in the soil before transplanting, followed by another 100kg (2 bags) of Urea per hectare broadcast at 30 days after transplanting.

SECOND APPLICATION: Broadcast 100 kg/ha (2 bags) of Urea per hectare at ear initiation.

Weed Control

HAND WEEDING: Hand-weed twice at 21 and 40 days after transplanting. Collect all weeds from bunds, and decompose or bury them in one corner of the field to prevent insect attack.

CHEMICAL CONTROL; Drain water from the field. Spray herbicides such as TamariceTMPL,

RonstarTMPL, or RisaneTMat 3 kg/ha (8 litres) 2–3 weeks after transplanting on a clear sunny day.

After 2–3 days, irrigate the field. You may topdress with urea. Hand weed again around 40 days after planting.

Diseases – Spray DithaneTMM-45 at 1kg or BenlateTMat 1.5 kg/ha in 500 liters of water to control brown spot, grain discoloration, and blast.

Pests – STEM BORER: Watch the rice crop closely for dead hearts during early vegetative growth. In case of stem borer attack, spray Gammalin® 20 on leaves and plant bases thoroughly. Apply DecisTMat 1 liter a.i/ha in 500 litres of water to control rice bugs which suck the sap after flowering – Apply FuradanTM(Carbofuran) at 1 kg/ha or MiralTM(Isazofos) at 0.75 kg a.i/ha to control African rice gall midge 20–30 days after transplanting as symptoms are seen on the field.

Bird Control

Birds are a problem during grain filling. Control them manually by scaring them.

Harvesting Harvest long straw close to the ground 15–20 cm to permit hand threshing. Other operations are as for Upland rice.

Expected Yield

5–6 t/ha paddy.

Drying

Dry paddy properly to a safe moisture content of 13–14%, by spreading it on a clean concrete floor, mat or tarpaulin.Sundry slowly for 2–3 DAYS to reduce breakage during milling. On a clear bright day, sun dry for one day only by spreading paddy thinly on clean concrete floor, mat, or tarpaulin. Use a mechanical drier, if possible.

Storage

Store in cool, dry rodent-proof conditions. Infested paddy should be fumigated with phostoxin in air-tight containers at the rate of one tablet/jute bag (100 kg paddy) or 10–15 tablets/t paddy.

Processing

PARBOILING: Soak paddy in hot water at 70 degree century for 5–6 hours. Discard all floating empty grains. Parboil rice by steaming soaked paddy in a jute bag for 10–16 min by suspending the bag over steaming water in a drum. Stop parboiling when rice husks start to split open. Chalky grains or white centers indicate incomplete parboiling, which may cause grain to break during milling.

Milling:

Mill rice in a two-stage milling machine. Always mill one pure variety at a time.

Oryza sativa. That is the botanical name of the world’s second most popular cereal after maize, rice. To the average Nigerian, it needs no introduction because it has become one of the most important foods in the country, consumed by both the wealthy and the poor. This position was attained largely on account of its steady demand by the Nigerian populace for both domestic and commercial consumption.