1 Dec 2025
Telangana, India’s largest rice-producing state, is broadening its global footprint by expanding rice exports to new international destinations. For the first time, the state's Civil Supplies Corporation has exported the MTU 1010 variety— a long-grain sticky rice popular in Southeast Asia— to the Philippines, according to S. Mohanty, Advisor to the Telangana Government. He shared these insights at the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) exhibition.
With growing global interest, Telangana is now eyeing African markets, particularly Nigeria and other West African nations, for exports of parboiled rice.
Mohanty highlighted Telangana’s exceptional growth in rice cultivation over the past decade. The state’s rice acreage has tripled, and production has surpassed 20 million tonnes of milled rice this year. “The state's domestic requirement is around 5 million tonnes. Even after contributing to the central pool, we still have five to six million tonnes available,” he noted. This surplus is paving the way for export expansion and the adoption of more sustainable farming models.
The state is also focused on climate-resilient agriculture. Telangana is promoting water-efficient and low-emission cultivation techniques, including non-flooded rice farming and newer varieties that release significantly less methane. “We want farmers to shift to sustainable methods without fear of losing yield. It must be market-driven. When farmers see assured buyers and better prices for eco-friendly rice, they are more willing to adopt these practices,” Mohanty said.
Export markets offering premium rates for sustainably grown varieties have encouraged farmers to participate more actively in this transition.
On trade challenges, Mohanty noted that US tariffs have limited impact on Telangana since the state does not produce Basmati rice. “Telangana Sona, exported in small quantities to the US, has not been affected,” he added.
Looking ahead, Mohanty projected that India’s rice surplus could reach 30 million tonnes by 2030. He emphasized the need to diversify exports beyond the handful of popular varieties currently shipped abroad. “India has nearly 20,000 rice varieties, yet only 5–10 are exported. Many traditional varieties are highly nutritious and have a low glycemic index. Telangana Sona, for instance, has a GI below 50,” he said.
He concluded that India’s long-term strength in the global rice trade will depend on promoting diverse, healthier, and sustainably grown rice varieties. “India will remain the world’s largest rice exporter, but we must expand into premium markets with climate-friendly and nutritious varieties to achieve greater global value,” Mohanty said.