NEW DELHI– India has surpassed China to become the world’s largest producer of rice, with output reaching 150.18 million tonnes, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday.
The minister said China’s rice production stands at 145.28 million tonnes, adding that India has made major strides in developing high-yielding seed varieties and has emerged as a leading exporter of rice to global markets.
Chouhan was speaking at an event in the national capital where he launched 184 improved varieties of 25 field crops developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. 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 Agriculture Minister directed officials to ensure the rapid dissemination of these new varieties to farmers. He said the advanced seeds would help farmers achieve higher yields and improved quality, strengthening farm incomes. He also urged agricultural scientists to place greater emphasis on boosting the production of pulses and oilseeds to reduce import dependence and move toward self-sufficiency.
Chouhan noted that 3,236 high-yielding crop varieties have been approved over the past 11 years since the current government took office, compared with 3,969 varieties approved during the 45-year period between 1969 and 2014.
He said the newly released varieties are designed to address key challenges facing agriculture, including climate change, soil salinity, drought, and other biotic and abiotic stresses, while also supporting natural and organic farming practices.
Highlighting India’s broader agricultural progress, the minister said the country has transitioned from food scarcity to becoming a major supplier of agricultural products to global markets. He added that India has entered a new phase of agricultural advancement driven by the development of high-yielding and climate-resilient seeds.
According to Chouhan, the achievement reflects the combined efforts of nationwide coordinated crop research projects, state and central agricultural universities, and private seed companies. (Source: IANS)
