National Rice Awareness Month - Learn about different types of rice and their nutritional benefits this National Rice Awareness Month.

National Rice Awareness Month 2024 – November 2024

National Rice Awareness Month is celebrated every year in November in the Philippines. It raises awareness about the importance of healthier forms of rice that are locally produced such as pigmented and brown rice. During this month, people are encouraged to consume healthier rice, which is produced by Filipino farmers. People are urged to prioritize rice produced by Filipino farmers as it is less exposed to pesticides than imported rice. Celebrations during this month generally include holding or attending rice exhibits, playing rice trivia games, and promoting healthy varieties of rice.

History of National Rice Awareness Month

Rice is a staple food source for more than half of the world’s population. It was believed to be first domesticated in the Yangtze River basin in China. A 2011 genetic study shows that forms of Asian rice, both indica, and japonica, came from a single domestication event that occurred between 13,500 to 8,200 years ago in China from the wild rice Oryza rufipogon. A more recent study suggests that japonica was domesticated first and indica rice was domesticated when japonica arrived in India about 4,500 years ago.Evidence that suggests that rice consumption has been around in India since 6000 B.C. has been found at Lahuradewa in Uttar Pradesh. However, there is still a debate whether the samples found at Lahuradewa were domesticated or not. Rice cultivation in India started in 5000 B.C. Proof of rice cultivation has been found in the Indus Valley civilization from the third millennium B.C. and in Kashmir and Harappan regions from the second millennium B.C.Japonica rice cultivation started to spread to Southeast Asia with the advancement of the Austronesian Dapenkeng culture in Taiwan between 3500 and 2000 B.C. Dated 2800 B.C., the Nanguanli site in Taiwan has yielded numerous carbonized remains of both rice and millet in waterlogged conditions, which indicates intensive wetland rice cultivation and dryland millet cultivation.

National Rice Awareness Month timeline

13,500 — 8,200 Years Ago
The First Domestication of Rice

Forms of Asian rice, both indica, and japonica, come from a single domestication event that occurs in China from the wild rice Oryza rufipogon.

6000 B.C.
Rice Consumption in India

Rice is consumed by people at Lahuradewa in Uttar Pradesh, India.

3500 — 2000 B.C.
Rice Arrives in Southeast Asia

Japonica rice cultivation starts to spread to Southeast Asia with the proliferation of the Austronesian Dapenkeng culture in Taiwan.

1694 A.D.
Rice in America

Rice, which probably originated from Madagascar, arrives in South Carolina.

National Rice Awareness Month FAQs

How many varieties of rice are there?

Rice comes in more than 40,000 varieties.

Is wild rice and brown rice the same?

No, wild rice is long and narrow, while brown rice is lighter in color and comes in three sizes: short, medium, and long grain.

When was the international year of rice?

The year 2004 was celebrated as the ‘international year of rice.’

National Rice Awareness Month Activities

  1. Feast on rice

    The best way to celebrate the month is by eating some healthy and delicious rice. Learn about different kinds of rice and add this nutritious product to your life.

  2. Participate in rice trivia games

    Play a rice trivia game and discover how much you really know about rice. As a player, you get to learn new things about rice and maybe even win exciting prizes.

  3. Educate people about rice

    Even though rice is a staple food, most people don’t know much about it. Share interesting facts about different types of rice and their nutritious value on your social media.

5 Interesting Facts About Rice

  1. Rice can be easily grown

    Rice is easy to grow and gives a very high yield and that is why it has been grown on every continent except Antarctica.

  2. Rice was used for building ancient monuments

    In the 15th and 16th centuries, rice, along with calcium carbonate, was used as a mortar to hold the stones of the Great Wall of China together.

  3. Rice is initially brown

    When we remove the outer bran layer of brown rice, it turns white.

  4. Rice stays fresh for years

    Uncooked white rice remains safe to eat for 10 to 30 years.

  5. Rice is eaten a lot

    While Americans eat around 20 pounds of rice every year, Asian residents have up to 300 pounds, and U.A.E. residents consume about 450 pounds of rice per year.

Why We Love National Rice Awareness Month

  1. It promotes healthy eating habits

    National Rice Awareness Month is all about promoting local varieties of rice that are not much exposed to pesticides. It encourages people to make a healthier choice for themselves and their families by going for brown or pigmented rice instead of the usual white polished rice.

  2. It celebrates rice

    Rice is the world’s staple food and is found in every culture’s cuisine. It is not only great for health but also easily available.

  3. It supports local farmers

    Rice from local farmers is much healthier than imported rice. This month offers a great opportunity to convince people to buy rice from local farmers.

National Rice Awareness Month dates

Year Date Day
2022 November 1 Tuesday
2023 November 1 Wednesday
2024 November 1 Friday
2025 November 1 Saturday
2026 November 1 Sunday
All Saints' Day
​National Calzone Day
National Vinegar Day
National Men Make Dinner Day
National Brush Day
Karnataka Rajyotsava Day
National Cook For Your Pets Day
National Jersey Friday
National Deep Fried Clams Day
National Cinnamon Day
Extra Mile Day
National Family Literacy Day
Fountain Pen Day
Love Your Lawyer Day
National Author's Day
Prime Meridian Day
World Vegan Day
Haryana Day
International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
Lakshmi Puja
Puducherry Liberation Day
Antigua Independence Day
Kut
Kannada Rajyothsava
D. Hamilton Jackson Day
Anniversary of the Revolution
Coronation Day of His Majesty the King
Pâté Day
Laxmi Puja
Scented Candle Day
National Biologic Coordinators Day
National Jayden Day
National Mia Day
Calan Gaeaf
All Saints Day (Spain)
GeorgeNotFound's Birthday
Lil Peep's Birthday
Jayden Bartels's Birthday
Natalia Tena's Birthday
Penn Badgley's Birthday
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Birthday
Paige Hyland's Birthday
Anthony Ramos's Birthday
David Foster's Birthday
Earth Katsamonnat's Birthday
JoJo Fletcher's Birthday
Anthony Kiedis's Birthday
Sada Bettencourt's Birthday
Jenny McCarthy's Birthday
Marc D'Amelio's Birthday
Coco Crisp's Birthday
Gabrielle Bernstein's Birthday
Sunset Safari's Birthday
World Communication Week
National Fig Week
National Medical Cannabis Week
​Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month
​Diabetic Eye Disease Month
​National Diabetes Month
​National Epilepsy Awareness Month
​National Family Caregivers Month
National Fun with Fondue Month
​National Impotency Month
National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Pepper Month
No Shave November
​PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month
​National Healthy Skin Month
​National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
​National Novel Writing Month
Banana Pudding Lovers Month
National Prevent a Litter Month
Family Stories Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Gluten Free Diet Awareness Month
Manatee Awareness Month
National Adopt A Senior Pet Month
Military Family Month
National Adoption Month
National Roasting Month
National Family Literacy Month
National Gratitude Month
National Native American Heritage Month
National Entrepreneurship Month
Aviation History Month
Filipino Values Month
National Raisin Bread Month
Adopt a Turkey Month
Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Bladder Health Month
Library and Information Services Month
National Long-term Care Awareness Month
Traditional and Alternative Health Month
National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility
Philippine Book Development Month
National Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Month
Worldwide Bereaved Siblings Month
National Children’s Month
National Repair Done Right Month
National Pomegranate Month
Pet Diabetes Month
National Life Writing Month
National Rice Awareness Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
National Home Care and Hospice Month
National Scholarship Month