i.Autumn or Pre-*kharif* or *Ahu* paddy

These groups of rice are grown generally from the month of February as irrigated transplanted rice and may continue upto the month of May. Harvesting starts from May to August.

ii.Winter or *kharif* or *Sali* paddy

These groups of rice are grown during the month from July–August as rainfed direct seeded or transplanted rice and irrigated transplanted rice. The crop is harvested during the month of November and December.


*Rice Cultivation - A Way of Life for the People of North Eastern Hill Region of India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99108*


*The broad geographical regions of NEH states (delineated into six distinct agro-climatic zones).*

*Rice Cultivation - A Way of Life for the People of North Eastern Hill Region of India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99108*

iii.Spring or Summer or *Boro* paddy

These groups of rice are grown during the month of November–December and harvested in the month of April–May mostly in water stagnated areas.

Further, rice grown in the low land areas of NEH region is further classified into two groups:

i.*Ashara* or shallow water rice

Rice is grown from March–April and harvested in November–December in shallow water rice area of 0.5 to 2.0 m water depth.

ii.*Bao* or deep water/floating rice

Rice is also grown from March–April and harvested in November– December in deep water areas as floating rice with water depth of 2 m and above.

Based on the rice agro-ecosystems prevailing in the NEH Region, rice may also be classified as under:

i.Hill or slope land rice

These groups of rice are grown in hill slopes either in the *jhum* field (**Figure 1**) as rain-fed upland direct seeded rice or in terraces (**Figure 2**) mostly as irrigated wetland transplanted rice. The hill rice may be of lowaltitude (1000-1500 m MSL), mid-altitude (1500-2000 m MSL) and highaltitude (above 2000 m MSL).

ii.Valley or flat land rice

These groups of rice are grown in flat land either as rain-fed dry-land direct seeded rice or rain-fed wetland direct seeded rice with sprouted seeds (**Figure 3**) or rain-fed wetland transplanted rice or irrigated wetland

**Figure 1.** Jhum *cultivation.*

**Figure 2.** *Terrace cultivation.*

**Figure 3.** *Direct seeded rice.*

transplanted rice (**Figure 4**). The rice in valleys are generally grown at an altitude of about 400 to 1000 m above MSL.

iii.Low lying semi-deep water and deep water rice

These groups of rice are generally adapted to semi-deep water (say from 0.5 to 2.0 m) and deep water conditions (more than 2.0 m) (**Figure 5**). This rice is generally direct seeded before monsoon rains. These areas are generally available in an altitude from 100 to 700 m above MSL.

*Rice Cultivation - A Way of Life for the People of North Eastern Hill Region of India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99108*

**Figure 4.** *Transplanted rice.*

**Figure 5.** *Deep water rice.*
