India has surpassed China to become the largest rice producer globally, with a production of 150.18 million tonnes, as stated by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. China’s rice production, in comparison, stood at 145.28 million tonnes. India’s success in developing high-yielding seeds has positioned it as a leading rice exporter in international markets.
Chouhan unveiled 184 improved varieties of 25 field crops, created by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), at an event in the national capital. These varieties encompass cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fodder crops, sugarcane, cotton, jute, and tobacco. The minister emphasized the importance of ensuring swift delivery of these new varieties to farmers for enhanced yields and quality produce.
The Agriculture Minister urged officials to focus on boosting pulse and oilseed production to enhance India’s self-sufficiency. Notably, over the past 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 3,236 high-yielding varieties have been sanctioned, compared to 3,969 varieties approved from 1969 to 2014. These new varieties aim to tackle agricultural challenges like climate change, soil salinity, and drought, while promoting natural and organic farming practices.
India’s transformation from a food-deficient nation to a major global agricultural supplier was highlighted by the minister. He attributed this progress to the development of high-yielding and climate-resilient seeds, marking a new agricultural revolution in the country. The achievement was credited to collaborative efforts involving ICAR projects, agricultural universities, and private seed companies.
