Archive · 15 Jan 2026
India Surpasses China as Top Rice Producer
India has become the world's largest rice producer, making more rice than China.
This is a big deal because India now makes 28% of the world's rice.
But growing so much rice has problems.
It uses a lot of water, which is causing water shortages in some places.
Also, not all states grow the same amount of rice, and the government is trying to get farmers to grow different crops to save water and improve nutrition.
The government is even offering money to farmers who stop growing rice and switch to other crops like oilseeds and pulses.
India produced 150 million metric tonnes of rice in 2024-25, surpassing China's 145.28 million metric tonnes.
India's rice production has quadrupled since 1969-70, with significant increases in both area and yield.
India's rice stocks exceed national requirements, with 63.06 million metric tonnes in the central pool as of January 1, 2026.
Paddy cultivation is attractive due to higher returns and assured procurement at minimum support prices (MSP).
Excessive paddy cultivation depletes groundwater and leads to uneven yields across states, prompting government efforts for crop diversification.
- Who
- India and China
- What
- India surpasses China in rice production
- When
- 2024-25
- Where
- India and China
- Why
- Increased paddy cultivation and higher yields in India
- India's Rice Production (2024-25)
- 150 million metric tonnes
- China's Rice Production (2024-25)
- 145.28 million metric tonnes
- India's Share of Global Rice Production (2024-25)
- 28%
- Rice Stock in Central Pool (Jan 1, 2026)
- 63.06 million metric tonnes
- Minimum Support Price (MSP) Net Return for Paddy (2021-22)
- Rs 56,226 per hectare
- Rice Yield per Hectare (National Average, 2024-25)
- 2,929 kg
- Top Rice-Exporting States (2023–24)
- Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha
- Government's Economic Cost per Hectare of Rice
- Rs 1,36,000