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History and Current Status of Indian Rice and Millets

Background of the Indian Millets and Rice

Rice

Rice is referenced for the first time in the Yajur Veda (c. 1500-800 BC) and is then frequently addressed in Sanskrit manuscripts. According to historians, the japonica variety of rice was domesticated from wild rice in southern China that was introduced to India, whereas the indica variety was first domesticated in the region covering the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas (i.e., north-eastern India), stretching through Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Southern China. Assam and Nepal are still home to perennial wild rice. After being domesticated in the northern plains, it appears to have first appeared in southern India around 1400 BC. Then it spread to all of the lush river-fed alluvial plains.

Millets

The earliest evidence dates around 3000 BC and was discovered in the Indus culture. More than 59 crore people ate millets as their traditional cuisine throughout Asia and Africa. The three types of millets that were considered a common man’s staple throughout the early history of the grain's growth track in India were foxtail millet, barnyard millet, and black finger millet.  

Present Status

India is the world's top producer and the world’s top exporter of cereal-related goods. In 2021–2022, India exported US$ 12,872.64 million worth of cereals.

Rice

Paddy is farmed throughout both the kharif and rabi seasons in the country. Thus far, the first advance projections covering solely kharif crops for the current agricultural year 2022-23 have been provided, with kharif rice production anticipated at 104.99 million tonnes. When compared to the 111.76 million tonnes of kharif rice output predicted for 2021–2022, the first kharif rice production estimate is lower by 6.77 million tonnes (6.06%). (4th Advance Estimates). The estimated kharif rice production is greater by 4.40 million tonnes (4.37%) than the 100.59 million tonnes per year on average from 2016–17 to 2020–21. Rice (including Basmati and Non-Basmati) accounted for 75% of total cereals exports from India during FY22. Other grains, including wheat, make up only 25% of the total amount of cereals exported from India.

Millets

India is one of the top 5 nations in the world for millets exports. From US$ 400 million in 2020 to US$ 470 million in 2021, millet exports grew globally. In comparison to the previous year, US$ 59.75 million in 2020-21, India exported millets worth $64.28 million in 2021–2022.