India's Non-basmati rice exports grow by 109% since 2013-14

• With the largest share of global rice trade, India continues to expand its rice exports footprint in Africa, Asia and the European Union.
• The government’s policies are helping farmers in getting access to the global market and ensuring food security.

Rice Export statistics

India exported rice to over 150 countries across the globe in 2021-22.

• India exported more than USD one million to 76 countries out of the 150 countries reported in 2021-22.
• It indicates the diversification of India's rice export over the years.
• Export of non-basmati rice was the top forex earner across all agri-commodities in 2021-22.
• India’s non-basmati rice exports: From USD 2925 million in FY 2013-14 to USD 6115 million in FY 2021-22. Also USD 2015 million in 2019-20, which rose to USD 4799 million in 2020-21.

Export Destinations

In 2020-21, India shipped non-basmati rice to 9 countries - Timor-Leste, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Eswatini, Myanmar and Nicaragua, where exports were carried out for the first time or earlier the shipment was smaller in volume.

• West African country Benin is one of the major importers of non-basmati rice from India.
• Other destination countries are Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Côte D’ Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Vietnam, Djibouti, Madagascar, Cameroon Somalia, Malaysia, Liberia U.A.E. etc.

Reasons for Robust Growth

India’s thrust on expanding port handling infrastructure, development of value chain involving key stakeholders along with efforts to explore new opportunities in countries or markets for rice exports in the last couple of years have led to a huge spike in rice exports.

• In collaboration with our foreign missions, coordinated development of logistics as well as focus on production of quality produce, has boosted India’s rice exports prospects.
• Notwithstanding logistical challenges posed by COVID19 pandemic, India continues to expand its rice exports footprint.
• With export to the African, Asian and European Union markets, India holds the largest share in global rice trade.
• The robust global demand also helped India’s growth in rice exports.

Rice and Other Crop Production

The major rice producing states are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Assam, and Haryana.

• As per Second Advance Estimates for 2021-22, the total production of Rice during 2021-22 is estimated at record 127.93 million tonnes.
• It is higher by 11.49 million tonnes than the last five years’ average production of 116.44 million tonnes.
• As per second Advance Estimates for 2021-22, total food grains production in the country is estimated at record 316.06 million tonnes which is higher by 5.32 million tonnes than the production of food grain during 2020-21.
• Further, the production during 2021-22 is higher by 25.35 million tonnes than the previous five years’ (2016-17 to 2020-21) average production of food grains.

Conclusion

India is the world’s second-largest rice producer after China. The record exports would enable the rice producers to reduce their stocks and would also benefit the farmers as the increased demand for Indian Rice is likely to improve their realizations.

The significant rise in agri-exports is also seen as a testimony of the government’s commitment to increase farmers’ income by boosting exports of agricultural and processed food products of the country.

Exam Track

Prelims Takeaway

• Rice Export statistics
• Export Destinations
• Reasons for Robust Growth
• Rice and Other Crop Production

Mains Takeaway

Q. Analyse the role of current agricultural exports in doubling the farmers income by 2024.