Why in the News?
- India became World’s Largest Rice Producer after officially overtaking China to become the number one rice-producing country in the world.
- India’s rice production reached 150.18 million tonnes, surpassing China’s 145.28 million tonnes, as announced by the Union Agriculture Minister.
- The achievement reflects India’s long-term transition from a food-deficient nation to a food-surplus economy, with growing relevance in global food supply chains.
- The announcement coincided with the release of 184 new high-yielding crop varieties by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), reinforcing the productivity push.
Basics about Rice and Its Cultivation in India
- Rice is the most important food crop of India and the staple diet for a majority of its population.
- It is predominantly a Kharif crop, although it is cultivated across multiple seasons depending on regional climatic conditions.
- Rice thrives in hot and humid climates, requiring:
- Mean monthly temperatures of around 24°C, with a suitable range of 22°C to 32°C.
- Rainfall between 100 cm and 300 cm, with irrigation compensating in low-rainfall regions.
- It grows well in deep clayey and loamy soils, although it can tolerate a wide range of soil types, including acidic and alkaline soils.
- Paddy is a semi-aquatic plant, requiring standing water of around 10–15 cm for most of its growing period.
India’s Rice Production
- India currently ranks as the world’s largest rice producer, followed by China.
- Other major rice-producing countries include Indonesia, Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Egypt.
- India is also the largest rice exporter globally, exporting around 20.1 million metric tonnes in 2024–25.
Major Rice-Producing States
- According to recent Economic Survey data:
- Telangana contributes around 12 percent of national rice output.
- Uttar Pradesh accounts for about 11.5 percent.
- West Bengal contributes nearly 11 percent.
- Other consistently high-producing states include Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, and Assam.
Geographical Patterns
- Rice cultivation is concentrated in eastern, southern, and north-eastern India, where climatic and water conditions are favourable.
- River deltas such as the Ganga–Brahmaputra plains and the Krishna–Godavari–Cauvery delta systems provide fertile alluvial soils and assured water supply.
- In low-rainfall regions like Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, rice cultivation depends heavily on canal and tube-well irrigation, raising concerns about groundwater depletion.
- In hilly regions, rice is grown through terraced farming, allowing controlled water flow on slopes.
Role of Technology, Seeds, and Policy Support
- ICAR has developed India’s first genome-edited rice varieties, including DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1.
- These varieties are designed to enhance yield, climate resilience, and water-use efficiency.
- The release of 184 new crop varieties across 25 crops reflects a broader strategy to improve:
- Productivity
- Nutritional quality
- Climate adaptability
- Since the crop variety notification process began in 1969:
- Over 7,200 varieties have been approved.
- More than 3,200 high-yielding varieties were notified after 2014.
- The government has emphasised last-mile seed delivery, integrated farming systems, and farmer outreach to ensure that productivity gains reach the ground.
Economic and Global Significance
- Becoming the India World’s Largest Rice Producer strengthens India’s role in global food security, especially for rice-importing countries in Asia and Africa.
- Higher production supports export earnings, contributing valuable foreign exchange to the economy.
- Large buffer stocks enhance domestic food security, allowing India to balance exports with welfare commitments.
- Stable and high rice output also helps moderate volatility in global rice prices, particularly during climate or geopolitical shocks.
External reference – The Economic Times
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