Asians consumed nearly 500 million tons of rice last year. The average consumption of rice in Asia varies from country to country with the average person in Myanmar eating about 195 kg of rice annually. In Laos and Cambodia the average per person consumption is about 160 kg. Other countries in Asia have different numbers but most of them are quite high. By way of comparison, the average European eats about 3 kg and the average American about 7 kg of rice.
Rice is harvested from the field in the form of paddy.
Paddy is the complete rice seed. One grain of paddy contains one rice kernel. Each paddy consists of many layers. The outermost layer of rice is the shell, which is called the husk. The husk consist of 2 interlocking shells or covers which each protect one half side of the paddy.