Top 10 Rice Producing States in India 2024

Table of Content

• Introduction
• What are the Top 10 Rice Producing States in India?
  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Telangana
  • West Bengal
  • Punjab
  • Chhattisgarh
  • Odisha
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Bihar
  • Madhya Pradesh

Introduction

Rice is one of the most important staple foods in India. Rice cultivation in India is practiced on a large scale across the country. It extends from the Gangetic plains in the North to the coastal areas of the South. Rice farming in India starts in the rainy season, which is from June to September. This season is also known as Kharif season. India's favourable climate makes it suitable for growing different varieties of rice. Some of the major rice varieties grown in India are Basmati, Mogra, Jasmine, Indrayani, Kolam, and many others.

India ranks second among the top rice producers in the world after China. The annual rice production in India was more than 135 million tons during 2022-23. Uttar Pradesh is in the first position among the top paddy producing states in India, followed by Telangana, West Bengal, Punjab and Chhattisgarh.

What are the Top 10 Rice Producing States in India?

In this section, we have listed the major rice producing states in India. Check out the top 10 rice producing states production-wise according to the data published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India, in 2022-23.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is the highest rice-producing state in India, contributing around 11.89 per cent of the total rice produced in the country. According to government data, the total rice production in the state was around 16.14 million tons.

The state's favourable climate makes it suitable for a wide variety of rice, including Basmati, which is highly popular for its exceptional flavour and fragrance. Bijnaur, Kushinagar, and Pilibhit are the major rice producing districts in Uttar Pradesh.

Telangana

Telangana is a new state which was separated from Andhra Pradesh in 2014. It has secured the second position among the highest rice producers in India, contributing 11.70 per cent of the total rice production. The state has a total production of 15.88 million tons.

It is popular for the production of a wide range of rice varieties, including Telangana Sona, Kunaram 1638, Warangal 962, etc. The major rice growing districts in the state are Nalgonda, Suryapet, and Yadadri.

West Bengal

West Bengal has secured the third position among the top rice producing states in India, which is accountable for 11.41 per cent of the total rice produced in the country. The total rice production was around 15.48 million tons.

The state is famous for producing high-yielding rice varieties such as Jalprabha, Jamini and Saraswathi. The top rice producing districts in West Bengal are Burdwan, Nadia, and Murshidabad. Being the highest rice-producing state, the state's economy highly depends on rice cultivation.

Punjab

Punjab stands at the fourth position among the top rice producing states in India, contributing 9.57 per cent of the total rice produced in the country. The state produced around 12.99 million tons of rice.

The state is famous for its high-quality basmati rice, which is exported to different parts of the world. The major rice growing districts in Punjab are Fatehgarh, Sangrur, and Ludhiana.

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh has rapidly grown to become one of the major rice-producing states in India. It contributes around 7.23 per cent of the total rice production and has secured fifth place among the major rice-producing states in India. The annual rice production in the state was 9.81 million tons.

Some popular rice varieties grown in Chhattisgarh are Chudi Dhan, Turia Kabri, Lal Dhan, etc. Its top districts that are involved in rice cultivation are Janjgir, Bilaspur and Rajnandgaon.

Odisha

Odisha is a coastal state in the eastern part of India, and rice is its staple food. It is in sixth place among the top rice-producing states, contributing 6.08 per cent of the total rice production in the country. A major population of the state is employed in rice cultivation. The annual rice production in the state was 8.25 million tons.

The popular rice varieties grown in the state are Pooja, Durga, Sarala, and many others. Bargarh, Gajapati, and Sonepur are the top rice-producing districts in Odisha.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is seventh among the top 10 rice-producing states in India, contributing around 5.85 per cent of the country's total rice production. The annual rice production in Andhra Pradesh was 7.94 million tons. Rice is a major crop cultivated during the Rabi and Kharif seasons in Andhra Pradesh. It is observed that the farmers are moving towards red and black rice due to their increased demand. The best part is that these crops can get premium prices while the input costs are low.

The popular rice varieties grown in the state are Sona Masoori, Chitti Mutyalu and Swarna. The top districts that lead in rice production in the state are East Godavari, West Godavari, and Krishna.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is located in the southern part of India. With an annual production of 7.56 million tons, it has secured eighth place among the top rice producers in the country. It has contributed around 5.57 per cent of the total rice produced in the country.

The leading rice varieties in the state are Black rice, Sambha, and Kullakar rice. Dindigul, Namakkal, and Kanyakumari are the top rice-producing districts in Tamil Nadu.

Bihar

Bihar is a densely populated state in eastern India and the ninth state on the list of major rice-producing states in India. It is accountable for around 5.17 per cent of the total rice production in the country. The annual production was 7.02 million tons. The state is located on the river plains of the Ganga basin, which is why it is rich in fertile alluvial soil, making it one of the major rice-producing states in India.

The major rice varieties grown in the state are Bisa Dhan-105, Gautam, and Turanta Dhan. In addition, the districts of Rohtas, Buxar and Patna are famous for producing large amounts of rice.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is among the top producers of oilseeds, pulses and foodgrains in India. Around 3.41 million hectares, or 7.14% of its total area, is engaged in rice cultivation. The state also contributed 5.17 per cent of the total rice produced in India, with a production of 7.02 million tons. The paddy crop season lasts for 6 months, with sowing done in June-July and harvesting in Oct-Nov.

Rice is cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, mainly in the eastern part of the state, due to higher rainfall. The popular rice varieties grown in this state include Chinnor rice, Pusa Basmati-1 and Shyamala. Balaghat is the top district in paddy production, which is why it is also known as the paddy bowl of the state. Other popular districts are Seoni, Mandla, Rewa and Katni.

Asia houses most of the top rice-producing countries of the world. China stands at the top, and India follows closely. Rice is cultivated on a large scale in the states discussed in this article. These 10 states ensure a steady supply not only for the Indian population but also for export purposes. Rice is a popular staple food in India, and it has also played an important role in shaping traditions and cultural practices in these states.