India overtakes China to emerge as world’s largest rice producer

India has emerged as the world’s largest producer of rice, surpassing China, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in New Delhi on Monday. India’s rice production has reached 150.18 million tonnes, ahead of China’s 145.28 million tonnes, the minister said, adding that the country is now supplying rice to overseas markets.

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

The minister said India has achieved significant success in the development of high-yielding seeds and directed authorities to ensure that the new varieties reach farmers without delay.

He said the improved seeds would help farmers achieve higher productivity and better quality output. Chouhan emphasised the need to make high-quality seeds available in every farmer’s field and urged agricultural scientists to focus on boosting the production of pulses and oilseeds to make the country self-sufficient in these critical crops.

He also said India has entered a new phase of agricultural transformation driven by the development of high-yielding and climate-resilient seeds. According to the minister, the achievement reflects the collective efforts of ICAR’s All India Coordinated Research Projects, state and central agricultural universities, and private seed companies.