At over 149 million tonnes, production is estimated higher than China’s 144.62 mt.

By Prabhudatta Mishra.

This is another new normal from India. It has emerged as the world’s largest producer of rice, with its output in the 2024-25 season to June estimated at over 149 million tonnes (mt). India has been able to achieve this, thanks to the efforts of agricultural scientists and some States’ continued incentives for the paddy crop.

The government will release the crop production estimates soon, in which the production of rice has been estimated to be over 149 million tonnes (mt). This relegates China to the number two position.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, China’s rice production is estimated to be 144.62 mt in 2024-25. The agency projected production in 2025-26 to be 148 mt in India and 145.28 mt in China.

States’ patronage

“The rice security bowl from the North-West region has been moving to Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Now, they are big rice producers. This is thanks to the State governments’ patronage by increasing the irrigation coverage as well as incentivising procurement through bonuses and assured purchase of the crop. A large section of farmers has been subsidised borewell connection, with free electricity, in these States,” said S Chandrasekaran, MD of Svastha Ecoharvest, which looks at climate and chemical compliant rice technology and trade through contract farming.

Rice yield has also increased due to continuous update of existing varieties as well as making those climate resilient, he said.

“After continuously holding the top position in global rice trade, becoming the world’s top producer is a big achievement in itself. This is particularly heartening as India meets the food requirements of 1.4 billion people. This leadership position has come after years of efforts by farmers, scientists, millers, exporters and different stakeholders,” said BV Krishna Rao, President, The Rice Exporters Association.

Second in wheat

The combined acreage of paddy in three seasons — kharif, rabi and zaid (summer) — was 47.83 million hectares (mh) in 2023-24, which reportedly surged to nearly 51 mh.

Normally in the zaid season, India used to produce about 10 mt of rice, sources said, adding that due to higher acreage this year, the production is likely to be higher. Besides, there has been an upward revision ofthe kharif and rabi crops output, though marginally.

Latest official data show rice (paddy) acreage in the zaid season at 3.2 mh as of May 9 against 2.86 mh a year ago.

In the case of wheat, though India’s production has increased significantly in the past decade — from 86.53 mt in 2014-15 to more than 117 mt in 2024-25 — it is still in the second position globally as China’s output for the current year is estimated at 142 mt.

The government will likely release the third advance estimates of production of crops for 2024-25 this week, wherein the summer season’s expected output will be included, sources said.

According to updated data, the production of foodgrain has been pegged at over 359 mt, up from 332.3 mt in 2023-24.

Oilseeds a drag

In the second advance estimates for 2024-25, released in March, the government pegged foodgrain output at 330.92 mt and rice at 136.44 mt, which covered only kharif and rabi seasons. The output of wheat, a rabi crop, was estimated at 115.43 mt.

Even maize production is reported to have crossed 42 mt, which is a record and up from 37.66 mt in 2023-24. The government has set a target to raise maize production to 50 mt by 2030.

Sources said that overall pulses production had not dropped significantly as was perceived, and it remained around 24 mt against 24.25 mt in 2023-24.

Though there is a drop in some individual crops such as urad, there has been increased production of other pulses such as moth and kulthi, sources said, adding that the overall oilseeds output did not recover after adding the summer crops and remained below 39.67 mt in 2023-24.

Published Date: May 19, 2025