NCERT Textbook: Transcripts | English Poorvi Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

 Page 1


203
Harvest Hymn
Let us listen (refer to page 181)
I Listen to this talk about paddy cultivation. As you listen, number the 
events in the correct order in which they happen.  
Hello everyone! 
Did you know that rice is actually a type of grass, and the 
part we eat is its seed? Let me tell you about the process of 
cultivating rice.
It all starts with preparing the land. First, the soil has to be 
ploughed. Rice is typically grown in fertile soil that holds a lot 
of water. The most important step in preparing the soil is to 
soak it with plenty of water. This step is called puddling. Once 
the nursery bed is prepared, the seeds can be planted. After 
that, we sow the seeds on the soil’s surface. 
Paddy farmers have to ensure that their fields stay flooded 
with water because irrigation is crucial. It takes around 4 to 
5 weeks for the seeds to grow into seedlings. After this comes 
the most important step—transplanting. The seedlings that 
were prepared in the nursery bed are uprooted and then 
transplanted into the flooded field.
In around 120 days, the rice plants are fully grown. At this 
point, the crops are harvested by cutting them. Following 
this, the seeds are separated from the plant. This is called 
threshing. To reduce the moisture content even more, the 
separated grains are dried. This ensures that they can be 
stored or processed further. Through a process called milling, 
the rice is separated from the outer covering on it. 
Finally, the rice reaches the market, and that’s where we get 
it to make all kinds of delicious foods. Whether it’s Appam, 
Pulao, Khichdi, or Daal Bhaat, rice is a big part of many meals. 
II Now listen to the talk again. As you listen, choose the correct option to 
answer the questions that follow.
Unit 4.indd   203 13-05-2025   12:52:00