India had exported over 20 million tonnes (mt) of rice in FY 2024-25, | Photo Credit: Sanny11
The two-day Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025 began here on Thursday with a number of trade representatives and farmers taking part.
However, the Department of Commerce distanced itself from the conference by issuing a statement on October 27 after a report in a web portal pointed to cases filed against Prem Garg, founder president of Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF), which is the organiser of the conference.
Garg, however, addressed the event, highlighting that buyers and diplomats from over 80 countries have been attending the event where exporters, millers, shipping partners, scientists, and different government agencies, both from Centre and States, are also participating.
“This is an industry-led gathering. We are here to do three things — learn together, trade together and build trust together. But, our farmers are the backbone for this industry. We are because of their hard work, so we stand on their shoulders,” Garg said.
Farmers felicitated
On October 24, while addressing the media to promote the BIRC 2025, Abhishek Dev, Chairman of the government’s agri export promotion body APEDA, said foreign ministers of the Philippines, Ghana, Namibia, and The Gambia would participate in the two-day event. But, none of those could join today. However, deputy commerce minister of Myanmar Minn Minn was present.
Though the conference received support from several ministries such as Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Food Processing Industries, Cooperation, and Agriculture, as stated by the government on October 24, none of the officials was present during the inauguration. However, Dev and some APEDA officials attended the technical sessions being held parallelly with BIRC. Governments of Odisha, Telangana, Meghalaya, Assam, and Manipur are also supporting the event.
As many as 13 farmers from States like Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Bihar, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra were felicitated by international buyers for their contributions to quality, innovation, and sustainability in rice cultivation.
During late afternoon at the technical sessions, APEDA’s Dev and former chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) Ashok Gulati and CEO of National Cooperative Export Ltd (NCEL) Unupom Kausik addressed the participants. Kausik said that there is a glut situation in rice in the country.
Food vs fuel
Gulati pointed out that India’s rice productivity is much lower than China and stressed the need to use latest technology to enhance the yield of paddy crop. He said rice productivity is still roughly around 3 tonnes per hectare, while China’s yield is 5 tonnes per hectare.
He emphasised on reducing use of water as well as carbon emission in paddy cultivation while maintaining a balance between preserving soil health and meet both domestic and overseas demand.
He said India had exported over 20 million tonnes (mt) of rice in FY 2024-25, which is one third of the total global trade of around 60 mt and termed it as a major contribution by exporters to ensure global food security. He expects orders of rice from African countries in the coming years to rise due to higher demand.
On the debate regarding food versus fuel, Gulati said: “Maybe, we should have a long-term tie up with the fuel (crude oil) producing countries, so that we are assured of the crude that we are looking for, and they are assured of the rice that they are looking for on a sustainable basis.”
Published on October 30, 2025
