India’s farm yields rise, but China continues to produce twice as much grain
India’s rice, wheat and maize yields have risen, but China continues to produce more than twice India’s total cereal output, BRICS data shows.
India and China lead the BRICS nations in farmland size, but China still yields twice as much grain per hectare, according to a new BRICS statistical report released on August 18. India’s rice, wheat, and maize yields have steadily increased since 2020, but they remain far behind China’s. In 2025, India produced 324.8 million tonnes of cereal, compared to China’s 660.2 million tonnes—more than double.
However, India’s cereal output actually declined by 2.2% from 2024 to 2025, while China’s production rose by 1.2%. Unlike India, Brazil also outperformed India in terms of rice and maize yields per hectare, though its wheat yield was lower. The report notes that lower yields are one of the challenges facing BRICS agriculture, alongside climate risks, land and water degradation, and supply-chain disruptions.
The BRICS nations called for cooperation on technology, inputs, research, mechanisation, digital agriculture, and improved farm efficiency at a recent agriculture ministers' meeting.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
