India’s Rice Boom: Feeding the Nation or Fueling Future Risks

In 2024-25, India surpassed China to become the world’s largest rice producer, accounting for nearly 28% of global rice production and about 40% of global rice trade.

• While this milestone strengthens India’s position in global food markets, it has also raised significant concerns regarding long-term food security and environmental sustainability.

Why India’s Rice Production Surge Raises Concerns over Food Security and Sustainability?

Resource-intensive Cultivation

• Rice is a water-intensive crop, requiring about 3,000-4,000 litres of water to produce 1 kg of rice.
• This high water demand has led to the over-exploitation of groundwater in many rice-growing regions of the country.

Skewed ....