India has emerged as the world's largest rice producer, surpassing China, according to recent reports. This milestone was announced by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighting a total rice output of 150.18 million tonnes.
The Agriculture Minister made this announcement while releasing 184 new high-yielding seed varieties for 25 different crops. These new varieties, developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), are expected to further boost crop production and increase the income of farmers. The introduction of these varieties underscores the government's commitment to strengthening India's food security and its contribution to the global food supply.
India has been the top rice exporter since 2012. Favorable monsoon conditions have significantly contributed to the country's impressive agricultural output. In 2024, the southwest monsoon rainfall was 108% of the long-period average, benefiting both the kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) sowing seasons. Kharif sowing accounts for approximately 60% of India's total annual crop production, with nearly half of Indian farmland relying on monsoon rains for crops like paddy, pulses, and oilseeds. These rains also replenish soil moisture, which is crucial for the rabi crop season.
The agriculture ministry's third advance estimates show that foodgrain production reached a record 353.2 million tonnes in the 2024-25 crop year (July–June), a 6% increase from the previous year. Rice production specifically rose by 8% to 149.07 MT, while wheat output increased by 3.7% to 117.5 MT. Pulses production saw a 4% rise to 25.23 MT, and oilseeds production increased by over 7% to 42.6 MT. Groundnut and soybean outputs also reached record highs at 11.89 MT and 15.18 MT, respectively.
Looking ahead, the government has set a foodgrain production target of 354.64 million tonnes for the 2025–26 crop year, anticipating another above-normal monsoon. Minister Chouhan has stated the government is dedicated to ensuring that agricultural schemes reach farmers across the country within the next three years. In the past decade, over 3200 new seed varieties have been developed.
