Which State is the Biggest Rice Producer in India?

Map of India Highlighting the Biggest Rice Producing State
Map of India depicting the biggest rice-producing state in the country
Map of India Highlighting the Biggest Rice Producing State
Map of India depicting the biggest rice-producing state in the country

West Bengal is the largest producer of rice in India.

India is one of the largest producers of rice in the world, second only to China. Approximately one-fifth of the total world production of rice is cultivated in India with an annual production of 109.7 million tonnes in 2016-17. A principal food crop, rice cultivation covers the most extensive area among food grains in India. Since rice is a tropical plant, it flourishes with ease in hot and humid Indian climate, especially in the areas receiving heavy rainfall. It demands more than 100-centimetre of rainfall and a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.

West Bengal tops the list of rice-producing states with 15.3 million tonnes of rice production in the year 2016-17. The state alone produces more than 13.95% of the country’s rice. Rice is grown in major parts of lower Ganges planes, especially in the districts of Midnapur, Bardhaman, 24 Paraganas, Birbhum, etc.

Uttar Pradesh comes in second place with 13.75 million tonnes of rice production in the year 2016-17. About 25% of the cultivated area of the State is devoted to rice production. Bareilly, Muzaffarnagar, Gorakhpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Faizabad, Barabanki, etc. are the principal rice-producing districts of the State.

The State of Punjab occupies third place with a production of 11.59 million tonnes of rice in the year 2016-17. Although primarily a wheat-growing state, the farmers have utilized crop rotation and used perennial irrigation sources to grow rice. In terms of per hectare yield of rice, Punjab tops the charts. Patiala, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Sangrur are the primary rice-producing districts of the State.

Odisha has made tremendous progress in rice production and now occupies the fourth place with a production of 8.33 million tonnes of rice in the year 2016-17; ahead of Andhra Pradesh – which used to occupy the second position before the creation of Telangana.

Chhattisgarh, traditionally known as the “Rice Bowl of India” – usually comes next, but in the year 2016-17, Bihar has edged passed the State with a rice production of 8.24 million tonnes, securing a place at the fifth spot. The rice production of Chhattisgarh for the year 2016-17 was 8.05 million tonnes, placing it at the sixth position.

Here is the list of rice-producing states in India:

S. No. States Production (Million Tonnes), 2016-17
1 West Bengal 15.3
2 Uttar Pradesh 13.75
3 Punjab 11.59
4 Odisha 8.33
5 Bihar 8.24
6 Chattisgarh 8.05
7 Andhra Pradesh 7.45
8 Telangana 5.17
9 Assam 4.73
10 Haryana 4.45
11 Madhya Pradesh 4.23
12 Tamil Nadu 2.37
13 Others 16.04

Related Map:

Map of West Bengal
West Bengal Map