India becomes world’s largest rice producer

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News– India has become the world’s largest producer of rice, surpassing China, with production of about 150.18 million tonnes, compared to China’s 145.28 million tonnes.

Status of Rice Production and Export

  • Major Rice-producing countries– India, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka and Egypt, with India now occupying the top position.
  • State-wise Production in India (2024–25)
    • Uttar Pradesh – 13.8%
    • Telangana – 11.6%
    • West Bengal – 10.6%
    • Punjab – 9.5%
    • Chhattisgarh – 7%
  • Export leadership– India is also the world’s largest rice exporter, exporting around 20.1 million metric tonnes of rice in 2024–25, strengthening its role in global food supply chains.
  • Major export destinations– Indian rice is primarily exported to Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Benin, and the United Arab Emirates, reflecting strong demand in West Asia and Africa.
About Rice Crop

  • Rice is a major food crop of the world and the staple diet of tropical and sub-tropical regions. In India, it is predominantly a Kharif (summer) crop..
  • Climatic and Soil Requirements
    • Temperature: Hot and humid climate; optimal range 22°C–32°C (mean ~24°C)
    • Rainfall: Generally 100–150 cm (up to 300 cm in some regions); irrigation supports cultivation in low-rainfall areas like Punjab and Haryana
    • Soil: Grows in silts, loams, gravels; best in deep clayey/loamy soils with pH 5.5–6.5
  • Water Requirement and Cropping Seasons– Rice is a semi-aquatic crop, requiring standing water of 10–15 cm for nearly three-fourths of its growing period.
    • Aman (Winter rice): June–July to Nov–Dec
    • Aus (Autumn rice): May–June to Sept–Oct
    • Boro (Summer rice): Nov–May

Recent Technological advances– ICAR has developed India’s first genome-edited rice varieties—DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1, which promise higher yields, improved climate resilience, and better water-use efficiency

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