Syllabus: III & V Agriculture

Why in the news?

At the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025 in New Delhi, agricultural economists highlighted that while India leads the world in rice production and exports, its per-hectare productivity remains far below China’s and urged India to adopt modern technologies to increase yield, reduce water consumption, and lower carbon emissions in rice cultivation.

India’s Rice Paradox

India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of rice, contributing over one-third of global trade. In 2024–25, India exported 20 million tonnes of rice.
However, productivity disparities persist:

• India: ~150 million tonnes from 50 million hectares (3 tonnes/ha)
  
• China: ~145 million tonnes from 29 million hectares (5 tonnes/ha)
  

India can raise its productivity to 5–7 tonnes per hectare using existing technologies — a step crucial for ensuring both food and environmental sustainability.

Rice Contribution of Assam

Assam, one of India’s major rice-growing states, plays a vital role in ensuring food security in the Northeast.

• The state contributes around 4–5% of India’s total rice output, with rice cultivated in nearly 2.5 million hectares.
  
• Rice is the staple food for over 90% of Assam’s population, grown across three seasons — ahu (autumn), sali (winter), and bao (deepwater).
  
• Sali rice, cultivated during the monsoon, accounts for nearly 70% of Assam’s total rice area and production.
  
• Despite fertile soil and abundant rainfall, Assam’s average yield (around 2.2 tonnes/ha) remains below the national average due to floods, lack of irrigation, and traditional farming methods.
  To boost productivity, the state is promoting high-yielding and flood-tolerant varieties such as Swarna-Sub1, alongside mechanisation, direct-seeded rice techniques, and climate-smart interventions under the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART).
  

Key Challenges and Reform Priorities

• Low Productivity: The yield gap can be bridged through precision agriculture, high-yield hybrid seeds, and AI-based soil and crop monitoring.
  
• High Water Use: Rice requires 3,000–5,000 litres of water per kg, making India a major “virtual water exporter”. 
  • Practices like Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and System of Rice Intensification (SRI) can save up to 40% water.
    
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Paddy fields emit methane (CH₄). Promoting low-carbon rice through sustainable water management and improved soil aeration is key.
  
• Soil and Nutritional Health: Continuous rice cultivation depletes nutrients. Balanced fertilisation, organic inputs, and focus on nutrient-rich indigenous varieties are essential.
  
• From Food to Nutritional Security: The shift must be towards fortified, protein-rich, and climate-resilient rice varieties that enhance both health and export value.
  
• Export Sustainability: Frequent export bans hurt global trust. India must build buffer stocks and adopt stable export policies for long-term trade confidence.
  

Government Schemes and Frameworks

• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: Provides free rice to 80 crore people under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
  
• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Encourages climate-resilient and resource-efficient farming.
  
• PM-PRANAM (2023): Promotes balanced fertiliser use and soil rejuvenation.
  
• APART (Assam): Supports climate-smart agriculture and paddy productivity in flood-prone regions.
  

Exam Hook: Key Take-aways

• India produces 150 million tonnes of rice, yet yield lags behind China (3 vs 5 t/ha).
  
• Rice consumes 3,000–5,000 litres of water per kg, calling for sustainable methods like DSR and SRI.
  
• Assam contributes 4–5% to India’s rice output, with huge potential for growth via tech-driven, climate-resilient farming.
  
• Focus must shift from food security to nutritional and environmental sustainability.
  

UPSC/APSC Mains Question:
“India’s rice production success story hides deep challenges of water use, emissions, and regional yield disparity. Discuss policy and technological interventions needed to achieve sustainable productivity, with reference to Assam.”

One-line wrap: India must power its next rice revolution with technology, sustainability, and inclusivity — ensuring that states like Assam lead the way in producing more with less.

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