Backed by a good monsoon, India’s rice production is estimated to reach 119.934 million metric tons (MT), according to the first advance estimates of production of major crops (Kharif) for the crop year 2024-25 released by the ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare in November.
This is 6.675 million MT or 5.89% higher than the previous year’s kharif rice production of 113.26 million MT and 11.483 million MT higher than the yearly average. The monsoon rainfall in the June- September period was 108% of the long-period average (LPA), which is conducive for rice production. The total area covered under rice was 43.36 million hectares – up from the average of 40.15 million hectares in the last five crop years (2018-19 to 2022-23).
As per statistics provided on the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) website – in 2024-24, India exported 5,242,048.37 MT basmati rice worth Rs 48,389.26 crore (US$ 5.74 billion) and 11,116,534 MT non-basmati rice worth Rs 37,804.42 crore (US$ 4.54 billion)
India is the largest producer and exporter of cereal products in the world. India’s export of cereals stood at Rs 90,961.67 crore (US$10.98 billion) in 2023-24. Rice (including basmati and non-basmati) occupies the major share in India’s total cereals export with 95% (in value terms) in the same period.
The major export destinations of the long-grain basmati were Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, the USA, and the Yemen Republic, while non-basmati rice was mostly sent to Benin, Guinea, Togo, Cote D Ivoire, and Vietnam, the APEDA statistics said.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) had a stockpile of 30 million tons of rice and another 1.3 million tons receivable from millers. As per the government’s buffer norms, the agency needs to keep 10.25 million tons as stock to meet its food security targets.
According to the ministry estimates, the total kharif foodgrain production for 2024-25, is projected at 164.705 million MT, which is higher by 8.937 million MT or 5.7% compared to the previous year’s production of 155.77 million MT and 12.459 million MT higher than the average. The record increase is attributed to the improved production of rice, jowar, and maize.
Other grains and cereals
Kharif maize production is estimated at 24.541 million MT, about 10% higher than 22.24 million MT in 2023-24, whereas that of nutri or coarse cereals was 37.818 million MT in 2024-25. The production of Kharif pulses in 2024-25 is estimated at 6.954 million MT, slightly down from 6.97 million MT in 2023-24.
The total kharif oilseeds production in 2024-25 is estimated at 25.74 million MT – higher by 1.583 million MT or 6.4 % than the previous year (24.16 million MT). The kharif groundnut production for 2024-25 is estimated at 10.36 million MT and that of soybean at 13.36 million MT.
Sugarcane production in the same period 2024-25 is estimated at 439.93 million MT and that of cotton is 29.92 million bales (of 170 kg each). The crop yield estimates are mainly based on trend or normal yield, coupled with ground-level inputs and expectations. This yield will be revised based on the actual yield ascertained through the conduct of crop-cutting experiments during harvest, which will then be reflected in subsequent production estimates.
Digital Crop Survey gains ground
For the first time, data from the digital crop survey (DCS) conducted under the Digital Agriculture Mission in collaboration with state governments was used to prepare area estimates – replacing the manual Girdawari system. The DCS method was used in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha for Kharif 2024. leading to a substantial rise in the area under rice, mainly in Uttar Pradesh, which topped the chart with 21.7 million MT in the advance estimates. Punjab was next with 14.6 million MT of rice.
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Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
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