03-September-2024-Editorial

DE-HYPHENATING RICE AND WHEAT PRODUCTION

Policymakers are now advocating for de-hyphenating the production and policy approaches towards rice and wheat. This is due to differences in their production patterns, consumption trends, and challenges posed by climate change.

While India enjoys surplus rice production, wheat is facing a deficit due to increasing demand and fluctuating production levels. Therefore, treating the two grains separately is essential for efficient policymaking and food security.

Reasons for De-hyphenating Rice and Wheat Production:

Contrasting Surplus and Deficit Situations:

Rice Surplus:

• India has witnessed a rise in rice exports, recording 21.21 million tonnes (MT) of exports in 2021-22, followed by 22.35 MT in 2022-23, and 16.36 MT in 2023-24.
• Despite large exports, rice stocks in government warehouses remain high, reaching 45.48 MT in August 2024.

Wheat Deficit:

• Wheat exports, in contrast, have declined from a peak of 7.24 MT in 2021-22 to just 0.19 MT in 2023-24.
• Wheat stocks in government storage dropped to 26.81 MT in August 2024, one of the lowest in recent years.
• To address this, the government banned wheat exports in May 2022.

Differences in Production Areas:

Rice Production:

• Rice is cultivated in both the kharif (monsoon) and rabi (winter-spring) seasons across diverse geographies.
• States like West Bengal produce three crops of rice annually: aus (summer), aman (rainy season), and boro (winter).
• Rice is produced in 16 states that contribute over 2 MT each, covering northern (Punjab, UP), southern (Tamil Nadu, Telangana), central (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh), eastern (West Bengal, Assam), and western (Maharashtra, Gujarat) regions.

Wheat Production:

• Wheat is grown during the rabi season, limited to fewer regions and produced by only eight states with over 2 MT each.
• The top four states (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana) produce 76% of India’s wheat.

Production Volatility:

Wheat Volatility:

• Wheat production is more prone to fluctuations due to its dependency on seasonal factors and climate change.
• Unpredictable winter temperatures and warming trends during crucial periods, such as sowing in November-December and grain formation in March, have adversely affected wheat yields in recent years.

Limiting Factors:

Rice:

• Water availability is the main challenge for rice cultivation. However, states like Telangana have significantly boosted rice production through improved irrigation facilities and assured Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Wheat:

• Climate change has made wheat production more vulnerable. Shorter, warmer winters, particularly during the grain formation and sowing periods, have led to reduced yields.

Diverging Consumption Trends:

Wheat:

• The consumption of wheat has been rising, with per capita monthly consumption estimated at 3.9 kg in rural and 3.6 kg in urban India.
• Wheat-based processed foods like maida, sooji, and bakery products are becoming increasingly popular due to urbanization and higher incomes.
• Wheat is now consumed daily in many parts of southern India, while rice consumption in northern India hasn’t shown a similar upward trend.

Rice:

• Unlike wheat, rice consumption has remained stable, with little growth in demand. There is also limited innovation in rice-based processed foods.

Government Initiatives to Support Rice and Wheat Cultivation:

• National Food Security Mission: Aims to increase the production of rice, wheat, and pulses to ensure food security.
• Hybrid Rice Seed Production: Focuses on improving rice varieties for higher yields.
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana: Provides financial support to enhance agricultural productivity.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP): Ensures farmers get a minimum price for their produce.
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): Supports the development of infrastructure for post-harvest management.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Focuses on improving irrigation and water efficiency.
• Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): Encourages farmers to diversify crops to ensure sustainable agriculture.

Recommendations for Reducing Rice-Wheat Consumption Divergence:

Wheat Policy:

• Focus on increasing wheat yields per acre and developing climate-resilient varieties to counter rising consumption.
• In the short term, India may need to import wheat, so building long-term solutions is crucial.

Rice Policy:

• Given the surplus, lifting the ban on white non-basmati rice exports and removing duties on parboiled rice would help balance supply.
• Encourage innovation in rice-based products like cereals, soups, and packaged foods to boost domestic consumption.

De-hyphenation of Policies:

• The production challenges, consumption patterns, and geographical limitations for rice and wheat differ significantly. Therefore, separate policy approaches are necessary for each to ensure food security and sustainability.