India consolidates its position as world’s largest rice producer with record harvest

India’s record reflects a broader trend among BRICS and partner countries, where rice plays a central role in food security, agricultural innovation and international cooperation agendas.

Indonesia is seeking to expand its presence in foreign markets, capitalising on production growth and record levels of domestic stock. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, as reported by ANTARA, Saudi Arabia is among the most promising destinations. In a first step in this direction, the country exported 2,200 tonnes of premium rice to the Saudi market, generating around US$2.1 million. For the minister, stable stocks not only guarantee domestic food security but also pave the way for the country to play a more active role in international trade.

In China, production continues to advance through the Tian Shu initiative, a programme focused on the country’s four main grains: rice, wheat, maize and soya. The proposal, according to Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS, combines laboratory sequencing with artificial intelligence, whereby seeds are analysed to generate genotype, phenotype and environmental data, with the aim of improving and increasing crop productivity through smart technologies.

Meanwhile, Cuba and Vietnam have signed an unprecedented partnership for rice cultivation in the Cuban province of Granma. According to Brasil de Fato, a partner of TV BRICS, the initiative aims to expand local production to supply the region, incorporating Vietnamese technologies and farming methods. The project forms part of a broader strategy by the Cuban government to strengthen food self-sufficiency.