India Surpasses China to Become the World's Leading Rice Producer

India Achieves Milestone in Rice Production

New Delhi, January 6, 2026: On Sunday, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced a significant achievement. He revealed that India has overtaken China in rice production, now claiming the title of the world's largest rice producer.

The minister stated, “India has secured the top position in rice production, surpassing China. Our rice output has reached 150.18 million tons, while China's stands at 145.28 million tons.” He described this accomplishment as unprecedented, symbolizing India's agricultural revolution.

During the announcement, Chouhan unveiled 184 new high-yield varieties of 25 crops developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). These new varieties are climate-resistant, high-yielding, and pest-disease resistant, aimed at enhancing farmers' income and boosting production.

He further remarked, “India has transformed from a country facing food shortages to a global food supplier. We are exporting rice to international markets, and our domestic grain reserves are sufficient to ensure food security.”

Chouhan urged agricultural scientists to focus on increasing the production of pulses and oilseeds to achieve self-sufficiency in these areas. He also instructed that the new seed varieties be distributed to farmers as soon as possible.