Today’s Top Rice News: Chhattisgarh Strengthens the Rice Bowl, India’s Rice Milling Market Set for Growth, Global Seed Innovation & AI Transforming Rice Breeding
By Megha Bajaj
Chhattisgarh strengthens the Rice Bowl, secures farmers’ future
The Chhattisgarh government, led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, has taken signifcant steps to boost its reputation as the Rice Bowl of India by boosting farmer incomes and making sure stable returns. Through the Krishak Unnati Yojana, the state has transferred around ₹10,000 crore directly to farmers while procuring over 14 million tonnes of paddy at an effective rate of ₹3,100 per quintal. The government has also cleared pending bonus payments, provided zero-interest short-term loans, and expanded interest-free agricultural credit. In addition, market reforms and integration with e-NAM aim to enhance transparency and market access, stressing on long-term income security and empowerment of small and marginal farmers.
India Rice Milling Market likely to achieve USD 1.41 Billion valuation by 2035 with 2.45% CAGR growth
The India Rice Milling Market is illustrated to grow from USD 1.11 Billion in 2025 to USD 1.41 Billion by 2035, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.45% during the forecast period (2025 – 2035). India Rice Milling Market is witnessing substantial growth driven by increasing rice consumption, technological modernization, and rising export demand. Notably, India is one of the largest producers and exporters of rice globally, making rice milling an essential segment within the country’s agricultural and food processing industries. Rice milling is the process of removing the husk and bran layers from paddy to produce edible white rice, brown rice, and other value-added rice products. The industry plays a significant role in ensuring food security, generating rural employment, and supporting the agricultural economy.
Guizhou seed specialist helps Nigerian farmers develop rice cultivation
A rice seed expert from Guizhou, Yang Xiugang, has spent around a decade helping farmers in Nigeria enhance rice production. When he began work in Jigawa State in 2017, yields were around 200 kg per mu(traditional Chinese land measurement) after introducing high-quality hybrid seeds and tailored cultivation techniques, such as better land preparation, fertilization, pest control and water management, local farmers now harvest about 600–650 kg per mu. His training focused on practical skills rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, leading several families to shift from coarse grains to rice as a staple. The hybrid rice seed base in Cengong county now produces about 8 million kg of seed annually, and over 20 technicians from the region have worked in more than ten countries, spreading improved rice farming practices.
Chinese scientists use AI in rice seed breeding
Chinese scientists had been using artificial intelligence in rice seed breeding to accelerate the pace at which research results are applied in agriculture. Zhang Guangheng, a researcher at the China National Rice Research Institute had a goal to cross indica and japonica rice to produce a higher-quality variety. He and his AI team provided customized AI solutions for seed breeders from remote IoT monitoring to AR glasses for pest and disease identification, accumulating rich practical experience. Currently, the team was working with manufacturers to design special wheels suited for muddy paddy fields and to refine walking control algorithms, aiming to have robots operating smoothly before the rice flowering season in March. The integration of modern technology with traditional agriculture is a microcosm of the development in the Nanfan seed breeding base.