NEW DELHI, 14 July 2025: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has announced record-breaking achievements in crop production, varietal innovation, and seed development for the 2024–25 season, marking a major leap in India's agricultural capabilities. These strides are critical for ensuring national food security, export competitiveness, and climate-resilient farming.
According to the latest data, India produced 149.1 million tonnes of rice in 2024–25, reflecting a 25% increase compared to 2019–20. This historic jump was driven largely by the adoption of high-yielding, ICAR-developed varieties and improved farming practices across rice-producing states.
ICAR Varieties Boost Basmati Exports
India’s basmati rice exports reached INR 50,000 crore in the 2024–25 fiscal year, a new national record. Significantly, 90% of this export value was generated from just four ICAR-bred basmati rice varieties, showcasing the council’s strategic role in developing export-grade agricultural innovations.
Wheat Production Hits New High
India also achieved a record wheat output of 117.3 million tonnes, with a staggering 85% of the crop originating from five ICAR-developed wheat varieties. These varieties were designed for better drought resistance, disease tolerance, and higher grain quality, ensuring more stable incomes for farmers while supporting national procurement needs.
Massive Varietal Innovation
Between March 1, 2024, and now, ICAR notified 679 new field crop varieties, including hybrids and trait-specific lines, to combat the threats of climate change, pest resistance, and soil degradation. These innovations span major cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and millets.
Strengthening the Seed Ecosystem
ICAR’s breeder seed production crossed 1.02 lakh quintals, spanning over 2,000 varieties across 56 crops—a milestone that supports the National Seed Corporation and state agencies in ensuring availability of quality seeds to farmers nationwide.
Additionally, 64 trait-specific germplasm lines have been registered to enhance the development of future-ready crop varieties, incorporating traits such as drought tolerance, salinity resistance, high protein content, and early maturity.
National & Global Impact
These achievements come at a crucial time, as India works to boost agricultural productivity amid challenges posed by climate variability, input costs, and international trade dynamics. ICAR’s R&D pipeline directly supports India’s goals under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, National Food Security Mission, and Millet Revolution (Shree Anna) initiative.
Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICAR, remarked, “Our focus is not just on increasing yields, but on making agriculture more resilient, profitable, and globally competitive. With farmer-centric innovation and accelerated variety release, we are ensuring India’s readiness for the future of food.”
