1 Jul 2025
India’s rice production for the marketing year (MY) 2024–25 is projected to reach 150 million tonnes (mt) on a milled basis, marking the second-highest output on record and a 9% increase over the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
This surge is primarily driven by record-high planted area, estimated at 51 million hectares (mha) — a 7% rise from MY 2023–24 — and favorable in-season conditions, particularly during the kharif season. The projected yield stands at 4.41 tonnes per hectare, the second highest ever, reflecting a 2% increase from last season.
The USDA attributes this strong performance to the timely and prolonged 2024 southwest monsoon, which brought ample rainfall across key rice-producing regions. The monsoon’s late withdrawal extended rainfall into August and September, benefiting late-planted crops in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, covering Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha — a region accounting for about 35% of the kharif rice crop.
In some areas, farmers shifted from cotton to rice due to rice’s higher yield potential and lower production risk. Despite delayed planting in many regions, conditions remained favorable, ensuring robust crop health and output.
According to the India Ministry of Agriculture’s Third Advance Estimate, rice planting in 2024–25 reached 49.5 million hectares, exceeding both last season’s figures and the five-year average.
Looking ahead, the USDA projects a record-breaking rice production of 151 mt for MY 2025–26 — a 1% increase over the previous year and 11% higher than the five-year average. The harvested area is expected to remain at 51 mha, while the yield is forecast to hit a new high of 4.44 tonnes per hectare.
Early indicators from the 2025 southwest monsoon show it began about eight days ahead of schedule, with favorable late-May conditions helping sowing efforts stay ahead of the usual pace.
India’s rice cultivation spans three main seasons: Kharif (May–August), Rabi (November–February), and Summer (March–May). The kharif crop dominates, accounting for 82% of total rice production, followed by 11% from rabi and 7% from the summer season.