India has emerged as the world’s biggest rice producer, surpassing China with an output of 150.18 million tonnes, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced. China’s rice production stands at 145.28 million tonnes, he added.
Chouhan said India’s achievement reflects major progress in the development of high-yielding seed varieties and the country’s growing dominance in global rice exports.
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The minister was speaking at an event in New Delhi, where he unveiled 184 improved varieties of 25 field crops developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). These include 122 cereal varieties, six pulses, 13 oilseeds, 11 fodder crops, six sugarcane varieties, 24 cotton strains, and one variety each of jute and tobacco.
Chouhan directed officials to ensure that the new crop varieties are quickly made available to farmers. He said the advanced seeds would boost yields and improve quality, enhancing farmer incomes.
He also urged agricultural scientists to prioritise research in pulses and oilseeds to help India achieve self-sufficiency in these key commodities.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
