1. Southeast Asia: The first hypothesis suggests that rice cultivation began in Southeast Asia, particularly in the regions of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand. Archaeological evidence and genetic studies indicate that wild rice species were domesticated around 10,000-8,000 BCE in these regions.
2. East Asia: The second hypothesis points to East Asia as the origin of rice cultivation, particularly in the Yangtze River Valley of China. Archaeological findings suggest that rice cultivation may have started as early as 8,000-7,000 BCE in this area.
So, while it's difficult to pinpoint a single country as the inventor of rice, evidence suggests that rice cultivation originated independently in both Southeast and East Asia. These regions were home to diverse ecosystems that provided suitable conditions for the growth of wild rice, which eventually led to their domestication by early human societies.