India’s farm yields rise, China producing twice as much grain
New Delhi: India has the largest cultivated area among the BRICS nations, but its farms continue to produce far less grain per hectare than China, the bloc’s biggest cereal producer, an analysis of data provided in the BRICS Joint Statistical Publication released August 18 showed
In 2025, India's agricultural output lagged significantly behind China's, despite India cultivating a larger area of farmland among the BRICS nations, according to a joint statistical publication released on August 18. While India's rice yield was 2,915 kg per hectare, China's was nearly three times higher at 7,205 kg/ha. Similarly, India produced 3,591 kg/ha of wheat compared to China's 5,940 kg/ha, and 3,824 kg/ha of maize against China's 6,700 kg/ha.
The disparity arose from various factors, such as China's assured irrigation and hybrid wheat varieties, while some of India's paddy yields matched China's in irrigated regions. Over the period from 2019-20 to 2025-26, India's rice yield improved by 13%, wheat by 4% and maize by 27%. Yet, cereal production in India fell from 332.05 million tonnes in 2024 to 324.79 million tonnes in 2025, a 2.2% decline, while China's production increased by 1.2%.
Experts attribute lower yields to factors like China's use of genetically modified crops and its higher adoption of improved seeds. India is actively working on productivity improvements through various initiatives, including the development of climate-resilient wheat varieties and the promotion of direct-seeded rice to reduce water requirements.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
