Bharat International Rice Conference 2026

Bharat International Rice Conference 2026

Why in News?

The second edition of the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 will take place from October 23–25, 2026 in New Delhi.

What is Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC)?

• About: The Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) is India’s flagship global platform for the rice value chain.
  • It is linked to international rice commerce, supply-chain discussions and price discovery.
  • It connects farmers, exporters, importers, policymakers, researchers, financiers and technology providers. 
• Objective: Its broader aim is to strengthen India’s role in global rice trade and food security.
  • It seeks to improve market access, export competitiveness, transparency and supply-chain resilience. 
  • It also aims to promote technology, sustainability and rules-based international rice commerce,  aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047. 
• Focus Areas: Key areas include:
  • The event centers on sustainable cultivation, advanced processing tech, and efficient export promotion. 
  • Panels discuss international certification protocols, shipping logistics, and financial frameworks. 
  • Experts evaluate climate challenges affecting crop yields and global distribution networks.
  • The program features nine curated experience zones and a first-class VIP business lounge. 
• BIRC 2025: 
  • The inaugural BIRC was held on 30–31 October 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. 
  • It was organised by Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF), with APEDA and government support. 
  • More than 10,854 visitors, 1,083 global buyers and 154 exhibitors participated.
  • The edition featured eight technical sessions, covering markets, shipping, nutrition, value addition, certification, organic rice, logistics, credit and insurance. 
  • A Vision & Roadmap process for India’s rice sector was also initiated. 
  • The conference targeted ₹1.80 lakh crore in potential new rice markets and ₹25,000 crore in export MoUs. 
  • It facilitated trade commitments worth ₹33,453 crore. It covered about 8.63 million metric tonnes of rice.
  • Its Culinary Experience Zone used chef demonstrations, tasting and buyer clinics to promote Indian varieties for international cuisines. 
  • It was India’s first AI-based rice-sorting technology. It used AI and Big Data to assess grain colour, shape, size and structure.
• BIRC 2026:
  • The second edition is scheduled for 23–25 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. 
  • This year the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF) will again organise this event. 
  • The upcoming event is planned to be three times larger than the previous year. 
  • Organizers expect 30,000 visitors and delegates from 120-plus countries. 
  • A dedicated Rice Festival will be organised on the final day, targeting high-income local consumers.

India’s Rice Sector

• Global Position: India has been the world’s largest rice exporter since 2012.
  • During the last five years, India has commanded roughly 30–35% of global rice exports. 
  • Recently, India surpassed China to become the world’s top rice producer.
    • India recorded an output of 150.18 million tonnes compared to China’s 145.28 million tonnes. 
    • India holds a dominant position in the global market, supplying over 40% of worldwide rice exports.
  • This gives India substantial influence over international rice availability and prices.
  • India produced about 150.18 million tonnes of rice in 2024–25. This enormous production base supports both domestic food security and export availability. 
  • India’s scale makes rice strategically important for agriculture and global food security.
• Export Growth: Rice export quantity increased from 17.73 million tonnes in 2020–21 to 20.19 million tonnes in 2024–25.
  • Export value increased from US$8.82 billion to US$12.47 billion over the same period, representing a 7.18% CAGR in value.
  • Basmati rice remains a major high-value export segment. In 2025–26, India exported 6.52 million tonnes, worth US$5.67 billion.
    • Major markets included Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, UAE, Yemen and the USA.
  • Non-Basmati rice supplies large volumes to food-deficit countries. In 2024–25, India’s rice exports reached 20.19 million tonnes.
  • India prohibited non-Basmati white-rice exports in July 2023 and imposed other restrictions. In September–October 2024, the government progressively removed major restrictions, including the non-Basmati export ban.
• Challenges:
  • Groundwater Depletion: Flood irrigation consumes nearly 3,000–5,000 liters of water per kilogram of rice. High-intensity cultivation in water-stressed states like Punjab and Haryana has caused severe water table drop.
  • High Carbon Footprint: Submerged rice fields create anaerobic conditions. These conditions release significant amounts of methane (CH₄), a potent greenhouse gas.
  • Soil Degradation: Continuous monoculture (rice-wheat cycle) destroys soil structure. It depletes micronutrients and leads to soil salinity.
  • WTO Compliance Pressures: India’s high domestic subsidies frequently face challenges at the World Trade Organization (WTO) under the Agreement on Agriculture.
  • Monsoon Dependency: More than half of India’s rice area is rainfed. Erratically shifting monsoon patterns directly threaten crop yields.
  • Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequencies of floods, droughts, and heatwaves during the flowering stage drastically reduce grain quality and output.
  • Economic Concern: Falling water tables force farmers to take on heavy debt for deeper borewells, crushing smallholders.
    • Meanwhile, state spending hits roughly Rs 39,000 per hectare on rice power and fertilizer subsidies, highlighting a costly cycle of agricultural strain.
• Government Support:
  • Minimum Export Price: The government removed the Minimum Export Price (MEP) on Basmati rice in September 2024. This improved exporters’ flexibility.
  • Minimum Support Price: The Minimum Support Price (MSP) provides an important production incentive.
    • For 2025–26, the MSP for common paddy was ₹2,369 per quintal. 
  • Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Promotion: Promoted under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to replace water-heavy transplantation, saving significant irrigation water.
  • Climate-Resilient Breeding: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) fields drought, heat, and salinity-tolerant rice varieties via the NICRA framework.
  • Methane Reduction Interventions: Integrating Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) methods into state climate plans to scale down agricultural greenhouse gases.
  • Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS): Offers commercial carbon offset credits to incentivise methane-minimizing practices among smallholders.
  • National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM): Focuses on boosting production and closing productivity gaps in low-yielding districts.
  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Drives cluster-based organic rice production targeting premium niche export markets.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. What is the Bharat International Rice Conference?
BIRC is India’s global platform connecting the rice value chain, trade, technology, sustainability and food security.

2. When and where will the conference be held?
The 2026 edition will be held 23–25 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

3. What is the objective of the Bharat International Rice Conference?
It aims to strengthen rice exports, market access, sustainability, innovation, value addition and India’s global rice leadership.

4. Who is organizing the conference?
The conference is organized by the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF), with government and industry support.

5. Which stakeholders are expected to participate?
Expected participants include farmers, exporters, importers, millers, policymakers, researchers, investors, financiers, technology firms and logistics companies.

Disclaimer: Information in this article is based on official announcements and public records. Regulations and implementation details may evolve over time.