With the growing demand for food across the globe, rice has become a very important commodity. It's the third most-produced staple food after maize and wheat. In India, almost all states produce rice, though the vast majority is produced in the eastern regions.

 

The Indian subcontinent is home to the oldest rice paddy field in the world. The earliest archaeological evidence for the cultivation of rice in South Asia has been found in the sites of Lahuradewa and Mehrgarh, circa 6000 BC. Rice production in India played a major role in the history of the region, particularly in the ancient and medieval eras. Owing to the diversity of soil type, climate, and relief, a wide variety of rice varieties are grown in India. There are three major rice-producing regions – the East, West, and the North.

 

Rice is the most important crop in the world, so it may not come as a surprise that the international rice market is a complex network of supply, demand, and political forces. The rice market is also very large and global, meaning that there are several large-scale business opportunities in this industry.

 

India is the second-largest producer of rice in the world. Rice is grown on more than 5 million hectares and employs millions of people in the country. From seed selection to harvesting, rice is a well-established agricultural crop.

 

Facts about rice:

1. The plant of rice can grow up to 1–1.8 m (3.3–5.9 ft) tall

2. The leaves of the rice plant are long, and range from  50–100 cm (20–39 in) long and 2–2.5 cm (0.79–0.98 in) broad.

3. Rice takes a large amount of water to develop. Rice production uses about 5,000 gallons of water per kilogram of rice produced.

4. The hull, or husk, protects the harvested rice kernel, often known as paddy or rough rice. The hull and bran layers of the kernel are normally removed during milling, and a coating of glucose and talc is occasionally applied to give the kernel a glossy sheen.

5.  Brown rice is rice that has had the husks removed and includes about 8% protein and a tiny amount of fat, as well as thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, iron, and calcium. 

6. White rice is rice that has been milled to remove the bran as well, resulting in a significant reduction in nutrients. When white rice is consumed in large quantities, there is a danger of beriberi, a condition caused by thiamine and mineral deficiencies.

Different kinds of rice: 

 

• Long grain rice-Long grain rice is distinguished by grains that are three to four times the breadth of the grain. When cooked, its starch content makes it light, separable, and fluffy.

• Medium grain rice: When cooked, medium-grain rice is twice as long as it is wide, and it becomes moist and tender. Medium grain rice is ideal with a stickiness rating of medium for both creamy Italian risottos and savory Spanish Paella recipes.

• Short-grain rice- Short-grain rice, such as arborio, bomba, and sushi rice, has a similar length and width and cooks to a sticky texture.

• Parboiled rice: Rice that has been partially boiled in the husk is known as parboiled rice. By forcing the nutrients from the bran into the rice kernel, the parboiling technique helps to retain many of the nutrients lost when the bran is removed.

• Basmati rice: Basmati rice is a type of white rice with a lower GI, less arsenic, more fiber, and a stronger scent than other varieties. Basmati rice has a huge market among people who have diabetes as it can be part of a balanced diet.

• Jasmine rice: Jasmine rice is rice with a long grain. It is longer and thinner in shape and size than most other varieties of rice. The texture of jasmine rice is fluffy texture than soft and clumpy.

• Wild rice: Wild rice has a faintly nutty flavor, which some people compare to tea. Wild rice is perfect for use in soups, stews, and stuffings because of its chewy texture, and the earthy flavor lends a tasty and hearty ingredient to a recipe.

• Brown rice: Brown rice is whole grain rice that has been stripped of its inedible outer shell. The outer hull of the brown rice is removed but the bran and germ layer remains which is the reason that this rice has a brown color.

• Polished rice: Polished rice refers to rice that has been milled for removing the husk, bran, germ, and varying amounts of the nutrients contained in them, leaving a starch-rich grain. This kind of rice has less moisture, mineral, biotin, niacin, protein, and fat content than brown or lightly milled rice.

 

Who are the major producers of rice in the world?

 

China, India, Indonesia, and Brazil are the top four rice-producing countries in the world. Together, they produce 32% of the world's rice. Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Burma, and Brazil are other important rice-producing countries.

 

What are the major states in India for rice production?

 

West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, and Assam are the major rice-producing states in India.

 

 

Things to keep in mind while buying rice in bulk from suppliers around the world:

 

1. Understand the rules and regulations: You need to understand the rules and regulations regarding the rice import in the respective location. You need to make sure that you will comply with all the necessary import laws. Make sure that you will follow all the trade rules by considering all the necessary factors.

2. Specify the type of rice: You need to clarify what kind of rice you need to buy in bulk. There are many varieties of rice that you need to decide on which one to buy in bulk and what is the market status of that particular rice.

3. Search for the best supplier:

You need to choose the best supplier of rice that can match your requirements and can give you quality rice at an affordable price. There are many platforms that you can use to buy rice by searching the rice suppliers online across the globe. 

There are many top B2B portals in India such as IndiaMart, Global Trade Plaza, etc. where you can explore the trusted suppliers across the globe. Global Trade Plaza is the leading B2B trade portal where you can buy rice in bulk with trusted suppliers across the globe. You will get high-quality rice at a competitive price. You can find the suppliers by using the filters and reading out all the necessary details to match your requirements.

4. Secure payment gateways: While purchasing the rice in bulk, you need to keep in mind that you have secure payment gateways. Your payment method is trusted and secure. Secure payment processing protects against fraud and other security risks by facilitating the transfer of online payments, customer data, and other sensitive information.

5. Analyze the samples: Before making a purchase, you need to order some samples to make sure about the quality and price. You need to compare your requirements with the provided stuff. Before purchasing a large quantity of rice, make sure to purchase one or two bags to ensure that the rice meets the requirements of your business. You need to check everything and then make your decision according to it.

6. Plan your storage area: Temperature, moisture content, container environment, and storage container are the four most important aspects. You need to consider all these aspects while storing bulk rice. The optimal temperature for storing grains like rice is 5°C (40°F) or less; however, rice can be preserved for up to 10 years on dry ice (oxygen replaced with CO2) at a constant 21° C (70° F). You need to check your storage area for pests such as mites, weevils, and mice. Protection from insects, rodents, and birds, ease of loading and unloading, accurate use of space, ease of maintenance and management, and prevention of moisture re-entering the grain after drying are all important features of a good storage system.

7. Analysis of market: You need to check the type of rice you want to buy from the particular niche market. Market study aids in the identification of the market's main players. It also allows you to learn about the issues with the things you're offering. Knowing your clients will assist you in achieving commercial success. You will also learn what types of products the buyers favor. The cost of storage and other logistical charges associated with finding a market for your imported rice products will surely affect your bottom line if you have a ready market. The easiest approach to do this is to conduct extensive market research and use product samples as a gauge for determining the market acceptance of your rice product.

 

 If you are looking to buy rice in bulk to resell then consider it as a highly profitable business with a high expected return. However, the success depends solely on how well an intending rice buyer understands the rice import market. Reselling rice after buying in bulk quantity can be beneficial. You need to make sure that you consider all the tips and important factors before buying huge quantities of rice.