India has reported a remarkable foodgrain production of 357.73 million metric tonnes in the 2024-25 agricultural year, showing a significant increase of 25.43 million metric tonnes from the previous year. This growth is attributed to enhanced productivity, better input management, and increased institutional support for farmers. The surge in production is mainly due to higher yields of rice, wheat, maize, and coarse cereals, including millets known as Shree Anna.
India’s agricultural exports have been on a steady rise in recent times. Export earnings from agriculture escalated from $34.5 billion in FY20 to $51.1 billion in FY25, marking an 8.2% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). In FY25, agricultural and food exports, encompassing processed food items, totaled $49.43 billion, constituting around 11.2% of the overall exports. Notably, the proportion of processed food exports has consistently increased from 14.9% in FY18 to 20.4% in FY25, indicating a shift towards higher value-added products in the export mix.
India holds the position of the world’s second-largest producer of rice and wheat, with outputs of 150.18 million tonnes of rice and 117.94 million tonnes of wheat in the 2024-25 agricultural season. The country also leads in global pulse production, yielding 25.68 million tonnes in 2024-25, with key producing states being Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Additionally, India ranks first globally in millet production, achieving approximately 18.59 million tonnes in 2024-25, largely driven by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
In the same period, rice exports amounted to $12.95 billion, while pulse and millet exports reached $855 million and $59.20 million, respectively. Furthermore, horticulture has emerged as a significant driver of agricultural progress and value addition. Total horticulture production in 2024-25 stood at 362.08 million tonnes, indicating a shift towards high-value crops. According to estimates, production surged from 280.70 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 367.72 million tonnes in 2024-25, including 114.51 million tonnes of fruits, 219.67 million tonnes of vegetables, and 33.54 million tonnes from other horticultural crops.
These statistics highlight the increasing global demand for diverse, climate-resilient cereal crops, underscoring India’s crucial role in ensuring global food and nutrition security.
