The influence of rice on humankind has been significant. Rice has been grown in Asia for the past 7,000 years. Latest reports suggest that this may in fact be 10,000 years. It is cultivated on all continents except Antarctica. About half of the world’s population is dependent on rice as a staple food.

Typically a grass, there are two major varieties, scientifically known as Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima. Both came from a common ancestor that was distributed across Gondwanaland, the ancient super continent that would break up and become the modern continents of Africa and Asia. These plants are indigenous to southern Asia and south-eastern Africa.

Many communities associate rice with a goddess or mother figure. She is Dewi Sri or Bhatari Sri’ in Bali. In Thailand, rice is referred to as ‘Mother Rice’. In India, she is Annapoorna.

Different cultures have different stories about how rice originated. The Chinese people believe it to be a gift from the animals. Once upon a time, China was hit by severe flood. The people ran up to the hills to seek shelter. After the water receded, they found all the plants to be dead. They tried hunting but there were helpless as few animals remained. As the legend goes, one day, some people saw a dog running across a field. There were bundles of stalks with yellow seeds around its neck. The people cultivated these seeds and called the plants “rice”. They were not hungry anymore with rice to thrive on. This is why rice is considered to more precious than jewels in Chinese culture.