Context:
Recently, the policymakers called for de-hyphenating the production of rice and wheat due to changes in their production and consumption. While rice production has experienced a surplus, wheat production has not kept pace with rising demand, leading to a significant shortfall. This shift in agricultural focus aims to address the imbalance and optimize resource allocation between these two staple crops.
Relevance:
GS III: Agriculture
Dimensions of the Article:
- Differences in Rice and Wheat Production in India
- Recommendations for Addressing Rice and Wheat Production Discrepancies
Differences in Rice and Wheat Production in India
Rice Surplus and Wheat Deficit:
- In recent years, India has seen varying levels of surplus and deficit in rice and wheat respectively. While rice exports were 21.21 million tonnes in 2021-22 and slightly higher in 2022-23, they dropped to 16.36 million tonnes in 2023-24. Concurrently, rice stockpiles reached a record 45.48 million tonnes by August 2024. Conversely, wheat exports sharply decreased from 7.24 million tonnes in 2021-22 to just 0.19 million tonnes in 2023-24, with stock levels being notably low at 26.81 million tonnes in August 2024.
Geographical Production Variations:
- Rice: Grown in both the kharif and rabi seasons with some regions like West Bengal cultivating three annual cycles: aus, aman, and boro. Rice production is widespread across 16 Indian states each contributing over 2 million tonnes.
- Wheat: Primarily cultivated during the rabi season with significant production concentrated in just eight states, with the major four (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana) providing 76% of the output.
Production Challenges:
- Rice: The main constraint is water availability, yet improvements in irrigation and supportive policies like minimum support prices have boosted production in states like Telangana.
- Wheat: Increasingly impacted by climate change, wheat production faces challenges such as shorter and warmer winters and varying sowing period temperatures, which have led to reduced yields and lower stock levels.
Consumption Patterns:
- Wheat: Data from the 2022-23 household expenditure survey reveals that the average monthly wheat consumption per capita stands at 3.9 kg in rural areas and 3.6 kg in urban settings, correlating to about 65 million tonnes annually for India’s population. Wheat’s use in processed forms like flour and semolina is expected to grow with urbanization and rising incomes.
- Rice: There has not been a significant change in rice consumption trends across India, indicating stable dietary preferences without substantial shifts towards rice-based convenience foods.
Recommendations for Addressing Rice and Wheat Production Discrepancies
- Wheat Strategy Adjustments:
- Short-Term Concerns: With increasing consumption and climatic and geographical challenges, there’s a potential for India to become a wheat importer.
- Long-Term Focus: Emphasis should be placed on improving per-acre wheat yields and developing climate-resilient wheat varieties.
- Rice Production Policy:
- Balancing Production and Consumption: Current domestic consumption of rice is lagging behind production levels.
- Export Policies: Recommend the removal of the export ban on white non-basmati rice and abolishing the 20% duty on parboiled non-basmati and the USD 950 per tonne minimum price for basmati rice to adjust market flows.
- Encouraging Rice Consumption:
- Innovative Food Processing: There is a need to expand rice consumption through innovative food products like breakfast cereals, soups, baby foods, and packaged mixes, enhancing its appeal and utility in the domestic market.
- Policy De-hyphenation:
- Separate Strategies for Rice and Wheat: Advocate for distinct and separate policies for rice and wheat due to their unique challenges and market dynamics, ensuring tailored approaches for each cereal type.
-Source: The Hindu
