Top 5 Rice Producing States in India 2026

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What are the Top 5 rice-producing states in India?
• Uttar Pradesh
• Telangana
• West Bengal
• Punjab
• Chhattisgarh

Introduction

Rice is one of the most crucial food grains in India, cultivated extensively across the country. Its cultivation spans from the Gangetic plains in the north to the coastal regions in the south. It is a staple food in India, holding both economic and religious significance. In India, rice farming typically begins with the monsoon season, from June to September. This period is also known as the Kharif season, which is ideal for rice cultivation. Additionally, the total rice production in India in 2024-25 was 150,184.25 thousand tonnes.

India’s favourable climate allows the growth of different rice varieties. Some of the major rice varieties grown in India include Basmati, Mogra, Jasmine, Aizon, Ambemohar, Chakhao, Dubraj, Burma Black, Indrayani, Kolam, and many others. With technological advancements in the agricultural sector, the use of modern tractors and farming implements, such as rice transplanters, has significantly increased rice productivity.

What are the Top 5 rice-producing states in India?

We have listed the top 5 rice-producing states in India according to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's 2nd Advance Estimates report for 2024-2025.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is the top rice-producing state in India. The state contributes about 13.82% of the nation's rice output. In the year 2024-25, the state produced around 20,758.69 thousand tonnes of rice.

Since the state has ideal climatic conditions for rice cultivation, various types of rice are available, such as Basmati, Adam Chini, Tulsi Manjari, and Sona Chura. A special variety of rice that only grows in the state is Kalanamak rice. This rice variety is mainly cultivated in Siddharthnagar and the nearby bordering areas of Nepal. It is known specially prized for its unique taste and aroma. Other rice-producing districts include Bahraich, Ballia, Gonda, Azamgarh, Mirzapur, and Lakhimpur Kheri.

Telangana

Rice plays an important role in Telangana's culture, prominently used for cooking and during religious purposes. Telangana has quickly become a major player in India’s rice production sector. From 2024-2025, the state produced 17,445.68 thousand tonnes of rice, accounting for about 11.62% of the national total. Popular rice varieties grown in the state include Kunaram 1638, Sannalu, BPT 5204, and RNR 15048, known as Telangana Sona, favoured for its quick cooking and low Glycaemic index. In Telangana, Kamareddy district is the largest producer of rice; other districts with substantial rice production include Nalgonda, Suryapet, Yadadri, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, and Jangoan.

West Bengal

Rice is considered a staple food in West Bengal due to the state’s favourable climatic conditions and plenty of water resources. These two factors contribute significantly to high rice yield in the state. The state ranks third among India's rice-producing states. In 2024-2025, it accounted for 10.67% of the country's total rice production, amounting to around 16,019.39 thousand tonnes. The state grows high-yielding rice varieties such as Jalprabha, Jamini, and Saraswathi. Other popular rice varieties cultivated in the state include Gobindobhog, Tulaipanji, Kalonunia, Kataribhog, Badshah Bhog, Radhatilak, etc., recognised for their distinctive aroma and taste. Some of the prominent rice-producing districts in West Bengal are Burdwan, Birbhum, Nadia, and Hooghly.

Punjab

Punjab is also known as 'the rice bowl of India’ due to the state’s significant contribution to the country's overall rice production. Punjab is the fourth-largest rice producer in India, accounting for about 9.56% of the national output. In 2024-2025, the state harvested 14,360.85 thousand tonnes of rice, the highest among other states.

Punjab is especially known for producing high-quality Basmati rice, which is mainly grown for export. Notable Basmati varieties include Pusa Basmati 1121 and Pusa Basmati 1509, as well as non-Basmati varieties such as PR 126, PR 121, and PR 106. These varieties are grown in various regions of Punjab, including Barnala, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Sangrur, Tarn Taran, Patiala, Moga, Mansa, Kapurthala, and Faridkot.

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is nicknamed the 'rice bowl of central India’. In 2024-2025, the state accounted for 6.90% of India's total rice production, which was around 10,368.45 thousand tonnes. Chhattisgarh is also home to numerous indigenous rice varieties, notably Jeeraphool, Dubraj, Laicha, Chudi Dhan, and Lal Dhan.  Moreover, Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Janjgir-Champa, and Kanker are among the state's leading rice-producing districts.

Rice is an important part of many tribal and rural communities across the state, and it is often shared during social gatherings and communal feasts. Other important top rice-producing states in India are Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Together, they account for about 1% of the country's total rice production, which is around 42,191.14 thousand tonnes in 2024-2025. Most of the world's top rice-producing countries are in Asia, with India at the top and China following behind. Rice farming in India serves not only to satisfy local needs but also for export, playing a crucial role in enhancing the nation’s food security and economy. It also has a significant impact on the cultural traditions in these areas.