At the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025, industry leaders came together for the most awaited session under the theme “Way Forward for Rice Towards Viksit Bharat 2047.” The session, moderated by Ajit Pai, Government and Public Sector Leader, EY India, and Manisha Gupta, Senior Anchor, CNBC-TV18, featured an insightful panel discussion with Dev Garg, Vice President, Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF); Sanjay Sethi; and Satyam Shivam Sundram.
India’s Rice Sector Holds Immense Potential in Realizing the Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047
Addressing the gathering, Dev Garg emphasized that India’s rice sector holds the potential to play a pivotal role in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Highlighting the nation’s production strength, he noted, “This year, India topped as the largest producer of rice with a surplus of 40 million tonnes. For the next four decades, India will continue to have more than enough to feed itself and the world.”
Mr. Garg underlined the importance of creating a global brand identity for India’s GI-tagged rice varieties, envisioning it as a cultural and economic symbol of India’s agri excellence. He noted that Indian GI-tagged rice has even pleased Japanese consumers — known for their discerning taste in food — reflecting its superior quality and culinary appeal. He further stressed that a policy-consistent, holistic approach and micro-level detailing across all agri- stakeholders are crucial for sustained growth.
The IREF, Garg said that, is taking strengthened initiatives to boost the rice export sector, and working tirelessly to “stand tall as the apex body driving India’s agri and rice excellence globally.”
Panelists Demand for Traceability & Farmer Centric Approach
Other panelists echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for sustainability, traceability, technology adoption, and farmer-centric policies as key enablers to strengthen India’s agri framework. The discussion highlighted how varieties such as Kala Namak and Gobindobhog rice — both nutritionally rich and globally admired — can add unique value to India’s export identity.
The session also reaffirmed that the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC), organized by IREF, has played a critical role in uniting industry stakeholders and aligning the rice sector with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 — a self-reliant, sustainable, and globally competitive India.
As the discussions concluded, the overarching message was clear:
Strengthening India’s rice and agri sectors is not just an economic goal — it is a national mission towards building a Viksit Bharat.