India is one of the major centres for rice production. It is the predominant dietary energy source of 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific, 9 countries in North and South America and 8 countries in Africa. The cultivation of rice ranks third in the production of agricultural commodity next to sugarcane and maize. Almost 95% of the rice production is done in Asian countries and about half of the world’s population consumes it. Consumption of rice is very high in developing countries and nations in Asia. Rice is a major cereal crop consumed as a staple food by over half of the world’s population. Thus, more focus on specialty rice and its by-products will not only save it from becoming extinct but also lead a step forward towards nutrition security of the country as they are abundant in vitamins, minerals and polyphenols. Rice bran, a by-product of the rice milling industry is under-utilised, is rich in dietary fibre which finds application in the development of functional foods and various other value-added products. The coloured rice, which usually gets its colour due to the deposition of anthocyanin pigments in the bran layer of the grain, is rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants. The nutritional profile of the specialty rice is high when compared to the white rice varieties. These include the coloured and aromatic rice varieties. Even if white rice is consumed by most people around the world, some specialty rice cultivars are also grown. Though almost 40,000 varieties of rice are said to exist, at present, only a few varieties are cultivated extensively, milled and polished. India stands second in the production of rice next to China. Rice is a major cereal food crop and staple food in most of the developing countries.
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