Rice

Area, production and productivity

Rice is the most important crop in Asia. World production of rice has risen steadily from about 200 million tonnes of paddy rice in 1960 to 600 million tonnes in 2004. Milled rice is about 68% of paddy rice by weight.  In the year 2004, the top three producers were China (31% of world production), India (20%), and Indonesia (9%).

World trade figures are very different, as only about 5-6% of rice produced is traded internationally. The largest three exporting countries are Thailand (26% of world exports), Vietnam (15%), and the United States (11%), while the largest three importers are Indonesia (14%), Bangladesh (4%), and Brazil (3%).

World and National level area harvested and production of rice is given below.

Source: FAOSTAT | © FAO Statistics Division 2007 | 23 January 2007

During 2006-07, decline in area was 12213 ha. from 2.76 lakh ha. in 2005-06 to 2.64 lakh ha and rice production increased from 6.30 lakh MT to 6.42 lakh MT, an increase of 1.8 per cent during this period compared to a decline of 6 per cent in 2005-06 with that of 2004-05. However in terms of production, an increase of 1.8 percent is recorded during 2006-07 compared to 2005-06. During 2005-2006, Kerala produced 6,29,987 tonnes of rice from an area of 2,75,742 ha. The area, production and productivity of rice from the state during 2001-02 to 2006-07 are presented below.

Source: Economic Review, 2005; 2007

Last updated: 21-05-2008