Rice production in Bhutan
Encyclopedia
Rice production in Bhutan plays an important role in food supply in Bhutan
and is cultivated largely for domestic consumption. The 2001 reported as little as 1% of rice grown in Bhutan as being of marketed, but a farmers survey indicated that around 15% is indeed marketed.
In a country where 79% of the population is engaged in agriculture, in 2006 the production of rice in Bhutan was 74, 720 metric tons, with some 67568 acres (273.4 km²) under cultivation. This increased dramatically from 44,000 tons in 2000. Rice production in Bhutan increased by 58 percent between 1989 to 1997 according to an assessment of the rice research programme in Bhutan. The most important growing areas are Samtse which has the highest rice growing area in Bhutan with 2,889 hectares, followed by Sarpang
with 2,839 and Punakha
with 1,971 hectares. Production, however, is highest in Punakha with 6,274 tonnes a year. Other areas include Paro
and Wangduephodrang, which has one of the most important rice institutes in the country at Bajo.
However a significant percentage of agricultural land has been destroyed to make way for infrastructure in the country. According to Ganesh B. Chettri, the Joint Director of the Department of Agriculture, “We have lost a lot of land for infrastructural development purposes in Thimphu
and other places but still the rice produced in Bhutan is sufficient for 50 percent of the population,”.
Also whilst the country is notable grower of rice, Bhutan still has to import 6,000 to 7,000 metric tonnes of rice every year according to Singay Dukpa, the Deputy Managing Director of the Foodgrain Division of the Food Corporation of Bhutan.
is a medium-grain rice and is the staple rice of the Bhutanese people. It is a red japonica
rice that is semi-milled; some of the reddish bran
is left on the rice. Because of this, it cooks somewhat faster than an unmilled brown rice
. When cooked, the rice is pale pink, soft and slightly sticky.
This rice became available in the United States
in the mid 1990s.
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and is cultivated largely for domestic consumption. The 2001 reported as little as 1% of rice grown in Bhutan as being of marketed, but a farmers survey indicated that around 15% is indeed marketed.
In a country where 79% of the population is engaged in agriculture, in 2006 the production of rice in Bhutan was 74, 720 metric tons, with some 67568 acres (273.4 km²) under cultivation. This increased dramatically from 44,000 tons in 2000. Rice production in Bhutan increased by 58 percent between 1989 to 1997 according to an assessment of the rice research programme in Bhutan. The most important growing areas are Samtse which has the highest rice growing area in Bhutan with 2,889 hectares, followed by Sarpang
Sarpang
-External links:*...
with 2,839 and Punakha
Punakha
thumb|right|Punakha Dzong and the [[Mo Chhu]]Punakha is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is about 72 km away from Thimphu and it...
with 1,971 hectares. Production, however, is highest in Punakha with 6,274 tonnes a year. Other areas include Paro
Paro, Bhutan
-History:Rinpung Dzong a fortress-monastery overlooking the Paro valley has a long history. A monastery was first built on the site by Padma Sambhava at the beginning of the tenth century, but it wasn't until 1646 that Ngawang Namgyal built a larger monastery on the old foundations, and for...
and Wangduephodrang, which has one of the most important rice institutes in the country at Bajo.
However a significant percentage of agricultural land has been destroyed to make way for infrastructure in the country. According to Ganesh B. Chettri, the Joint Director of the Department of Agriculture, “We have lost a lot of land for infrastructural development purposes in Thimphu
Thimphu
Thimphu also spelt Thimpu, is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The city became the capital of Bhutan in 1961...
and other places but still the rice produced in Bhutan is sufficient for 50 percent of the population,”.
Also whilst the country is notable grower of rice, Bhutan still has to import 6,000 to 7,000 metric tonnes of rice every year according to Singay Dukpa, the Deputy Managing Director of the Foodgrain Division of the Food Corporation of Bhutan.
Bhutanese red rice
Bhutanese red riceBhutanese red rice
Bhutanese red rice is a medium-grain rice grown in the Kingdom of Bhutan in the eastern Himalayas. It is the staple rice of the Bhutanese people....
is a medium-grain rice and is the staple rice of the Bhutanese people. It is a red japonica
Japanese rice
Japanese rice, or japonica, is a short-grain variety of rice which is characterized by its unique stickiness and texture. It also comes in a variety called mochigome which is used for making mochi...
rice that is semi-milled; some of the reddish bran
Bran
Bran is the hard outer layer of grain and consists of combined aleurone and pericarp. Along with germ, it is an integral part of whole grains, and is often produced as a by-product of milling in the production of refined grains. When bran is removed from grains, the grains lose a portion of their...
is left on the rice. Because of this, it cooks somewhat faster than an unmilled brown rice
Brown rice
Brown rice is unmilled or partly milled rice, a kind of whole, natural grain. It has a mild nutty flavor, is chewier and more nutritious than white rice, but goes rancid more quickly because the germ—which is removed to make white rice—contains fats that can spoil...
. When cooked, the rice is pale pink, soft and slightly sticky.
This rice became available in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the mid 1990s.