India overtakes China to become world’s number one rice producer

In a landmark development with far-reaching implications for global food security, India has officially overtaken China to become the world’s largest producer of rice.

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN Our SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The milestone, confirmed by the latest international agricultural production estimates for 2024-25, reflects India’s steady expansion of paddy cultivation, improved yields, and strategic government interventions over the past decade.

According to the revised global grain production index, India’s rice output this year is projected to touch a historic high, surpassing China’s long-held dominance in the sector.

China had maintained the top position for several decades, thanks to its intensive agricultural practices and large cultivated area. India’s ascent to the No. 1 position marks a structural shift in global food production patterns.

Agricultural analysts attribute India’s achievement to multiple factors: sustained Minimum Support Price (MSP) hikes, expansion of irrigation networks, record fertilizer availability, mechanization in rural farm belts, and targeted support schemes like PM-Kisan and PMFBY crop insurance.