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India Overtakes China as World's Top Rice Producer with Record Harvest

India has overtaken China to become the world's largest rice producer with an output of 150.18 million tonnes. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched 184 new improved crop varieties developed by ICAR to address climate and soil challenges. The minister highlighted that over 3,200 high-yielding varieties have been approved in the last 11 years, marking a new agricultural revolution. He directed officials to ensure rapid dissemination of these seeds to farmers to boost yields and quality.

Key Points: India Becomes World's Largest Rice Producer, Surpasses China

  • Record 150.18M tonne rice output
  • 184 new high-yielding crop varieties launched
  • Focus on climate-resilient seeds
  • Push for self-sufficiency in pulses & oilseeds
2 min read

India surpasses China to become world's largest rice producer

India produces 150.18 million tonnes of rice, surpassing China. Agriculture Minister launches 184 new high-yielding crop varieties to boost farm output.

"India has progressed from being a food-deficient country to becoming a leading supplier of agricultural products to global markets. - Shivraj Singh Chouhan"

New Delhi, Jan 5

India has surpassed China to become the largest rice producer in the world with a production of 150.18 million tonnes, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said.

The minister said that China's rice production stood at 145.28 million tonnes. India has achieved great success in the development of high-yielding seeds and was now a leading exporter of rice to world markets, he added.

Chouhan launched 184 improved varieties of 25 field crops, developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), at an event held in the national capital. The 184 varieties that were released include 122 cereals, 6 pulses, 13 oilseeds, 11 fodder crops, 6 sugarcane, 24 cotton, and one each of jute and tobacco.

The Agriculture Minister also directed officials to ensure that these new varieties reach farmers quickly. Explaining the significance of the new advanced varieties, the minister said that farmers will benefit as they will help in achieving higher yields and better quality of produce. The minister also asked farm scientists to focus on increasing the production of pulses and oilseeds to make India self-sufficient.

The minister also highlighted that as many as 3,236 high-yielding varieties have been approved in the last 11 years since the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government came to power, as compared to 3,969 varieties that were between 1969 and 2014.

The newly released varieties have been developed to address challenges confronting the agricultural sector such as climate change, soil salinity, drought, and other biotic and abiotic stresses, while also supporting natural and organic farming practices.

The minister pointed out that India has progressed from being a food-deficient country to becoming a leading supplier of agricultural products to global markets.

Chouhan said that the country has entered a new era of an agricultural revolution on the strength of the development of high-yielding and climate-resilient seeds. The Union Minister said this achievement is the result of the collective efforts of the ICAR's all-India coordinated projects on crops, state and central agricultural universities, and private seed companies.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great, but I hope this success translates to better prices and stability for our farmers. So often, bumper crops lead to falling prices and distress. The government must ensure the benefits reach the grassroots.
R
Rohit P
Surpassing China in anything feels good! Jai Kisan! 👨‍🌾 The real test now is water management. Rice is a water-intensive crop. We need to promote these new varieties that address drought and salinity.
S
Sarah B
As someone who follows global agriculture, this is impressive. India's shift from importer to leading exporter is a case study in agricultural policy. The coordinated effort between ICAR, universities, and private sector is key.
M
Meera T
While this is an achievement, the article rightly points out we need to focus on pulses and oilseeds next. We still import a lot of dal and cooking oil. Self-sufficiency in those will complete the picture.
D
David E
A respectful criticism: The numbers on varieties released (3,236 in 11 years vs. 3,969 in 45 years) are being highlighted, but quantity isn't everything. The real measure is how many of these seeds are actually adopted by farmers and improve their livelihoods.
K
Karthik V
Proud moment

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