Rice 1500 and 800 BC, "Oryza glaberrima" propagated from its original centre, the Niger River delta, and extended to Senegal. However, it never developed far from its original region. Its cultivation even declined in favour of the Asian species, which was introduced to East Africa early in the common era and spread westward. African rice helped Africa conquer its famine of 1203. Today, the majority of all rice produced comes from China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Korea and Japan. Asian farmers still account for 87% of the world's total rice production. Rice is the major food amongst
Scirpophaga nivella orange anal tuft, sometimes brownish in the female. The larvae are off white with a reddish dorsal line. Major feeding plant is sugarcane, besides "Oryza sativa", "Scirpus", "Cyperus", "Eleocharis" (including "Eleocharis dulcis") and "Calidum articulatum" are also susceptible as feeding plants of the moth. Caterpillars bore into midrib, by leaving red markings and small holes on the leaves. Then it bore in the upper portion of stem, causing "dead heart" symptoms. Gradually, side branches start growing from a lower node, giving a characteristic "bunchy top" appearance to the plant. Most effective method is using biological predators and parasitoids. It is