Rice: The unknown history of rice

 We grow organic brown rice.

There are many versions of rice that we grow, but in checking the history of rice I found out that Asian Rice is not the only form of rice: 

Africans developed/domesticated another rice: Oryza glaberrima

Native to sub-Saharan Africa, O. glaberrima is thought to have been domesticated from the wild ancestor Oryza barthii (formerly known as Oryza brevilugata) by peoples living in the floodplains at the bend of the Niger River some 2,000–3,000 years ago

   

This video discusses:

the original rice that made South Carolina rich was the African variety, but soon replaced by the Asian variety. And local farmers made sure they got their slaves from rice growing areas of West Africa who knew how to cultivate and irrigate the fields.

BBC article here.about the connection of the slave trade, rice cultivation, and how the African type of rice was the original rice grown in this area.

One thing not mentioned about why the African farmers transitioned to grow Asian rice: Easier to harvest (the seeds stay on the stem and don't shatter) and a better yield.

When I worked in Liberia, rice was one of the staple foods. and when the government increased the price of rice, there was a revolution, that eventually led to years of civil war and unrest. 

So yes, if you can find it, buy some African rice.

but remember: If you want to save this heritage plant, you need an affluent middle class who is able to afford it.

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