Rice is the staple crop of India. It is grown well in hot and moist climate. The geographical conditions for Rice Cultivation are :
- Temperature: 16°C – 27°C and rainfall 100 cm to 200 cm is ideal for rice growing. But rainfall during harvest times is harmful. Annual coverage temperature around 24°C is ideal.
- Soil: rice is grown well on the alluvial soil or on the fertile river basins. It is also grown in mixed soil or loamy and clayey soil.
- Land: Plain lands or gentle slopes are suitable for the production of rice. Because stagnancy of water is a must for the cultivation of rice.
Plenty of cheap labor is also required for the production of rice. HYV seeds, plenty of chemical manure, irrigation water, can produce more rice.
West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Uttar Pradesh are the main rice producing states of India. West Bengal is the largest producer but Punjab is the largest producer of rice per hectare.