Why India’s Rice Production and Exports Require a Rethink
Table of Contents
Relevance: GS Paper III – Economy – Agriculture, Food Security, Water Resources, Agricultural Marketing, Sustainable Agriculture
For Prelims:
- Conventional Transplanting-Cum-Continuous Flooding System, Basmati vs Non-Basmati Export Value, 2-Acetyl-1-Pyrroline (Aroma Compound), GI Region for Basmati 6.2 Million Hectares, Pusa Basmati-1509, Marker-Assisted Selection, Bacterial Leaf Blight, Rice Blast Disease, Predictive Breeding, Genomic Selection.
For Mains:
- Virtual Water Exports, Groundwater Depletion Punjab-Haryana, Water-Intensive Paddy Cultivation, Commodity vs High-Value Agricultural Exports, GI-Protected Aromatic Rice Varieties, Crop Diversification Strategy, Floor Price Mechanism for Basmati, Sustainable Rice Farming, Genetic vs Chemical Crop Protection, Climate-Resilient Varieties, Machine Learning in Crop Breeding.
Why in News?
India has:
- Remained the world’s largest rice exporter since 2011–12.
- Exported 21.69 million tonnes (mt) of rice in 2024–25.
- Surpassed China to become the world’s largest rice producer (150 mt) in 2024–25.
However, experts warn that sustaining this leadership raises serious concerns regarding:
- Groundwater depletion
- Water footprint of exports
- Financial efficiency of rice trade
- Long-term sustainability of Punjab-Haryana rice system
The debate calls for moving from commodity rice exports to high-value, less water-intensive rice exports.
India’s Global Rice Leadership
Export Position (2024–25)
- India: 21.69 mt
- Thailand: 7.86 mt
- Vietnam: 8.06 mt
India’s dominance is clear both in production and exports. But sustainability is the challenge.
Environmental Sustainability: The Water Crisis
Paddy is a Water-Guzzling Crop
- Rice cultivation under conventional transplanting and flooding system is extremely water-intensive.
Irrigation Requirement
- One irrigation covering 1 acre at 2.5 cm depth requires:
101,171.5 litres of water - Paddy fields maintain water level of 5 cm continuously.
- Number of irrigations: 20–30
Total Water Use
- 25 irrigations × 5 cm depth
- Total ≈ 5 million litres per acre
Water Footprint
- Average yield: 2.5 tonnes per acre
- Water per kg paddy ≈ 2,000 litres
- Water per kg rice (after milling) ≈ 3,000 litres
Therefore, for every kg of rice exported, India indirectly exports 3,000 litres of water.
This raises serious groundwater sustainability concerns, particularly in:
- Punjab
- Haryana
Paddy is a Water-Guzzling Crop
- Rice cultivation under conventional transplanting and flooding system is extremely water-intensive.
Irrigation Requirement
- One irrigation covering 1 acre at 2.5 cm depth requires:
101,171.5 litres of water - Paddy fields maintain water level of 5 cm continuously.
- Number of irrigations: 20–30
Total Water Use
- 25 irrigations × 5 cm depth
- Total ≈ 5 million litres per acre
Water Footprint
- Average yield: 2.5 tonnes per acre
- Water per kg paddy ≈ 2,000 litres
- Water per kg rice (after milling) ≈ 3,000 litres
Therefore, for every kg of rice exported, India indirectly exports 3,000 litres of water.
This raises serious groundwater sustainability concerns, particularly in:
- Punjab
- Haryana
Financial Sustainability: Basmati vs Non-Basmati
Key Insight
- Non-basmati exports are double in volume.
- Yet export earnings are similar.
- Basmati earns nearly 2–2.5 times more per kg.
Basmati provides more value per litre of water used.
Why Basmati is More Sustainable
1. Transplanting Time Advantage
- Non-basmati: transplanted in June (peak summer)
- Requires frequent irrigation due to high temperatures.
- Basmati: transplanted in July (monsoon period)
- Less irrigation requirement.
2. Ideal Grain Development
Basmati grain filling occurs in October when temperatures fall to 30–31°C.
This helps formation of: 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP)
→ Responsible for basmati’s characteristic aroma.
If planted earlier (June), high September temperatures reduce aroma formation.
Thus, basmati is both climatically suitable and water-efficient.
Strategic Shift Needed
According to experts:
India should:
- Expand basmati cultivation.
- Promote GI-protected aromatic short-grain varieties.
- Move from “commodity rice” to “premium rice exporter.”
GI Aromatic Varieties to Promote
Instead of bulk non-basmati exports, focus on:
- Kalanamak (UP)
- Adamchini (UP)
- Katarni (Bihar)
- Gobindobhog (West Bengal)
- Badshah Bhog (Chhattisgarh)
- Koraput Kalajeera (Odisha)
- Wayanad Jeerakasala (Kerala)
- Seeraga Samba (Tamil Nadu)
Benefits:
- Higher export value
- Regional diversification
- Lower water pressure on Punjab
Basmati Expansion Potential
GI-Registered Region
Total basmati GI region area: 6.2 million hectares
Break-up:
- Punjab: 3.1 mh
- Haryana: 1.3 mh
- Western UP: 1.5 mh
- Uttarakhand: 0.12 mh
- Jammu: 0.1 mh
- Himachal Pradesh: 0.05 mh
Current basmati cultivation: 2.1 mh
Scope exists to expand basmati to entire 6.2 mh GI region.
Policy Recommendations
1. Floor Price for Basmati
- Declare minimum mandi auction price.
- Prevent distress sale.
- Basmati’s premium status allows enforceability.
2. Shift Non-Basmati Procurement to Eastern India
Increase procurement in:
- Eastern UP
- Bihar
- West Bengal
- Assam
Reason:
- Lower groundwater stress
- Farmers not receiving MSP benefits
Breeding Innovations: Making Rice Sustainable
Blockbuster Varieties
Developed by IARI scientists:
- Pusa Basmati-1509
- Pusa Basmati-1121
- Pusa Basmati-1401
Example: Pusa Basmati-1509:
- 2.5 tonnes per acre yield
- 115–120 days maturity
Compared to traditional:
- 1 tonne per acre
- 155–160 days maturity
Higher productivity + shorter duration = lower water use.
Disease-Resistant Breeding
Using marker-assisted selection, genes introduced for resistance to:
- Bacterial leaf blight
- Rice blast fungus
New varieties:
- Pusa Basmati-1847
- Pusa Basmati-1885
- Pusa Basmati-1886
Benefits:
- Reduced need for antibiotics and fungicides
- Maintains export quality
- Preserves global premium image
Genetic vs Chemical Approach
Instead of heavy pesticide use:
Focus on:
- Genetic resistance
- Indigenous landrace screening
- Drought tolerance
- Heat tolerance
- Salinity tolerance
Future of Rice Breeding: Predictive Breeding
Next breakthrough: Predictive Breeding
Combines:
- Genomic selection
- Machine learning models
- Phenotypic data
- DNA-based prediction
Advantages:
- Faster variety development
- Reduced time and cost
- Higher efficiency
Also supported by:
- Speed breeding techniques
Broader Concerns
- Groundwater depletion in Punjab-Haryana
- Chemical overuse affecting export quality
- Climate change threats (heat, salinity, pests)
- Low value realisation from bulk exports
Way Forward
India must:
- Reduce water-intensive non-basmati in stressed regions.
- Promote high-value basmati and GI aromatic varieties.
- Expand cultivation in ecologically suitable regions.
- Encourage predictive and disease-resistant breeding.
- Move from volume-based strategy to value-based strategy.
Conclusion
India’s rice success story is remarkable. But exporting large quantities of low-value, water-intensive rice is environmentally and financially unsustainable.
The future lies in:
- Premium branding
- Water-efficient cultivation
- Scientific breeding
- Regional crop diversification
India must shift from being the largest rice exporter by volume to becoming the most sustainable and highest-value rice exporter in the world.
UPSC PYQ
Q. In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture? (2020)
- Crop diversification
- Legume intensification
- Tensiometer use
- Vertical farming
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (a)
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding India’s rice production and export strategy:
- India exported about 21.69 million tonnes of rice in 2024–25 and is the world’s largest rice exporter.
- Basmati rice exports generate nearly similar export earnings as non-basmati rice despite being exported in smaller quantities.
- Conventional paddy cultivation under continuous flooding requires approximately 3,000 litres of water per kg of rice produced.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- I and II only
- II and III only
- I, II and III
- I and III only
Answer: C
Explanation:
Statement I – Correct
India exported 21.69 million tonnes in 2024–25 and remains the world’s largest rice exporter.
Statement II – Correct
Basmati exports (5–6 mt) earned nearly $5.8–5.9 billion, comparable to non-basmati exports (11–14 mt), showing higher unit value realisation.
Statement III – Correct
Water consumption under conventional transplanting-cum-continuous flooding equals roughly 3,000 litres per kg of rice.
