Rice is a staple food crop in India and is grown widely across the country. India is the largest rice exporter in the world and produced over 135 million metric tons of rice in the 2022/2023 crop year. As a tropical plant, rice thrives in India’s hot and humid climate.
Rice farming is very important for India’s agriculture, and the country has a large area dedicated to rice cultivation. This staple food is essential for many people in India and is grown extensively in various states.
In 2024, several states stand out for their high rice production. These states play a significant role in meeting both domestic needs and export demands. Let’s explore the top 10 highest rice producing states in India, which are known for their substantial rice harvests and contributions to the country’s overall rice output.
Before that, let’s learn more about the types of rice in India below:
Types of Rice in India
Rice is a large part of India’s eating routine for different reasons. The main explanation is that rice gives energy to the body. Aside from this, rice is likewise solid and loaded with minerals that satisfy the body’s day to day necessities. So now is the ideal time to investigate more into the rice world and taste your ordinary staple in another structure! Every assortment of rice has a novel taste, fragrance, and properties and is used for making various kinds of dishes.
Below are the list of 20 different types of rice in India, which include the following.
| 1. Brown Rice | 11. White Rice |
| 2. Basmati Rice | 12. Sushi Rice |
| 3. Jasmine Rice | 13. Purple Thai Rice |
| 4. Mogra Rice | 14. Bomba Rice |
| 5. Bamboo Rice | 15. Glutinous Rice or Sticky Rice |
| 6. Wild Rice | 16. Arborio Rice |
| 7. Black Rice | 17. Valencia Rice |
| 8. Red Rice | 18. Sona Masuri |
| 9. Red Cargo Rice | 19. Samba Rice |
| 10. Indrayani Rice | 20. Rosematta Rice |
Do you want to know where is rice grown in India? Check out below.
Top 10 Rice Producing States in India
| 1. West Bengal | 6. Bihar |
| 2. Uttar Pradesh | 7. Chhattisgarh |
| 3. Punjab | 8. Orissa |
| 4.Tamilnadu | 9. Assam |
| 5. Andhra Pradesh | 10. Haryana |
Right now, the more significant part of India’s leading producer of rice is fundamentally situated in states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. These biggest rice producing states hold around 72% of India’s absolute rice producing region and offer over 75% of the all out rice production in the country. Following, we will show you the top rice growing states in India.
1. West Bengal
West Bengal is the top rice producing state in India, using nearly half of its farmable land for rice. However, rice production has dropped recently. In 2019-20, West Bengal produced 15.88 million tonnes of rice, which was 13.36% of India’s total. By 2023-24, production fell to 11.52 million tonnes, with its share decreasing to 9.3%. In 2020, production was 15.57 million tonnes, but it fluctuated after that. Despite this, West Bengal remains the largest rice producing state in India, with a yield of 2,600 kg per hectare. Farmers grow rice in the lower Gangetic fields, especially in Bardhaman, Midnapore, Birbhum, and 24 Parganas.
2. Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is the second major rice producing state in India, with a current production of 12.5 million tonnes and 5.86 million hectares dedicated to rice cultivation. In 2020, the state produced 15.52 million tonnes, but output has varied since then. Around 25% of the state’s farmland is used for rice. Major rice-producing areas include Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Faizabad, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Barabanki. The state grows various types of rice, such as Panth-4, Jaya, Mahsuri, Kasturi Basmati, and Pusa Basmati, with farmers cultivating rice across 5.86 million hectares.
3. Punjab
Punjab is the third most rice producing state in India, with a production of 11.82 million tonnes and 2.97 million hectares of land used for rice. In 2023, the state used 1.73 lakh acres for direct seeding of rice (DSR). Popular rice-growing districts include Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala. Punjab is also known for its Basmati rice, which includes Ranbir Basmati, Mahi Sugandha, and Pusa Basmati. The government supports rice farming through various schemes to boost production and efficiency.
4.Tamilnadu
Tamil Nadu is the fourth largest rice producing state in India, with a production of 7.85 million metric tonnes and 2.04 million hectares used for rice cultivation. For the 2023-24 season, Tamil Nadu’s rice yield is 2.31 tonnes per hectare, which is lower than the national average of 2.74 tonnes per hectare. This yield is also lower compared to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which are known for their high rice production. Popular rice-growing districts in Tamil Nadu include Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli, and Cuddalore. The state faces challenges such as flooding during the rains, but it benefits from government schemes aimed at improving agricultural practices and boosting rice production.
5. Andhra Pradesh
With 7.49 million tonnes added to the nation’s rice production, Andhra Pradesh ranks as the fifth major rice producer state in India. The state is perfect for growing rice because of its lengthy coastline and pleasant environment. The districts of Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari, and East Godavari are important rice-producing regions. Varieties such as Samba Madhuri, Samael, Sashari, and Sarvani are grown in the state. Andhra Pradesh, which has 22 important rice-growing regions, contributes significantly to India’s rice production.
6. Bihar
Bihar is the sixth largest rice producer state in India, with 6.5 million tonnes of rice and 3.21 million hectares under cultivation. It is one of the top-performing areas in the country, yielding more than 2,500 kilograms per hectare. In winter, Bihar produces varieties of rice like Dhanalakshmi, Gautam, Richaria and Saroj. In winter, farmers grow Gautam, Pusa-33, CR 44-35 (Saket-4), Pusa-2-21 and Prabhat paddy. These varieties are well adapted to the growing conditions of Bihar and contribute to the state’s important rice production.
7. Chhattisgarh
Known as the “rice bowl of India”, Chhattisgarh is the seventh highest producer of rice in the country, with 6.09 million tonnes of rice and 3.82 million hectares under cultivation. The State produces 7,900.000 tonnes of rice annually and is known for its variety. Farmers grow 2,000 varieties of rice, including Turiyakbari, Chudi rice, Laldhan and Red Bengal rice. This makes Chhattisgarh one of the largest rice-producing states in India.
8. Orissa
Odisha is the eighth most rice producing states in India, with 5.87 million tonnes of rice and 3.94 million hectares used for cultivation. Rice is a staple food in the state and covers about 69% of the cultivated land, making up around 63% of the total food grains produced. Odisha grows rice in various climates and conditions, contributing significantly to the country’s rice production. This diversity and high output make Odisha a key player in India’s rice industry.
9. Assam
In Assam, rice is the main crop grown, and the state is known for its diverse rice varieties. Assam is one of India’s top rice producing states. In recent years, Assam has produced about 5.14 million tonnes of rice. The area used for growing rice in the state is around 2.46 million hectares. This significant production and large cultivation area highlight Assam’s important role in rice farming. The state’s wide variety of rice shows its rich agricultural heritage and contributes greatly to its overall rice output.
10. Haryana
In Haryana, Kaithal, Jind, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamunanagar, and Sonipat are the principal rice-growing regions. These areas rank among the state’s top producers of rice. There are eighteen rice-growing regions in Haryana, seven of which are highly productive. Haryana does not rank among the top rice-producing states in India, even this. India produced 135 million metric tons of rice in total in 2023; Haryana produced roughly 5.4 million metric tons. Telangana was the nation’s top rice-producing state that year. Despite being one of the leading rice-producing states, Haryana is not one of the top rice producing states.
FAQ’s About Top 10 Rice Producing States in India
Q1. Which is the largest rice producing states in India?
West Bengal is the highest rice producing states in India.
Q2. What are the top 10 rice producing states in India?
The top 10 rice producing states are West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Odisha, Haryana, and Chhattisgarh.
Q3. Which state is the largest producer of the rice in 2023?
In 2023, Telangana was the top rice producer in India.
Q4. How much rice did Haryana produce in 2023?
Haryana produced about 5.4 million metric tons of rice in 2023.
Q5. What factors influence rice production in India?
Factors include climate, soil type, water availability, farming practices, and regional agricultural policies.
Interesting Facts About Rice in India
- All rice grows as brown rice.
- The more significant part of the world consumes rice as a staple food.
- Rice requires more development than corn and wheat.
- Farmers order rice as per the type and variety.
- The Guinness World Records has a record for the biggest bowl of rice.
These are all about major rice producing states in India. I hope you get to know the states where rice is grown in India. For more information about rice cultivation states, stay connected with Tractor Junction.
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