BIRC 2025 to Unlock ₹1.80 Lakh Crore in New Rice Markets; ₹25,000 Crore Export MoUs Expected

States and Union Territories to exhibit local rice varieties in the conference

The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has announced that the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025 will be held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on 30th – 31st October 2025.

Conceived as a global platform aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the Conference will bring together producers, exporters, importers, policymakers, financiers, logisticians, research institutions, and allied service providers to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and resilience in the global rice trade. Sustainability, innovation, and transparent, rules-based commerce will be at the core of the deliberations.

While addressing the curtain raiser of the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025 in New Delhi today, Chairman, APEDA, Shri Abhishek Dev informed that the Foreign Ministers of the Philippines, Ghana, Namibia, and The Gambia will participate in the two-day event.

India is one of the world’s largest producer and exporter of rice, supplying to over 172 countries. Therefore, BIRC 2025 will provide an opportunity for the stakeholders to position their presence in global food supply chains.

Organised by the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF), a national-level body representing over 7,500 exporters and allied stakeholders across India, in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)—a Statutory Authority under the APEDA Act, 1985, mandated with promoting exports of nearly 800 agri products, including rice—the Conference has received support from several line Ministries, Departments, and State Governments. Supporting institutions include the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Cooperation, and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The State Governments of Odisha, Telangana, Meghalaya, Assam, and Manipur are also supporting the event, along with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and cooperative institutions such as National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), Bhartiya Beej Sahakarita Samiti Ltd. (BBSSL), and Krishak Bharati Cooperative Agri Limited (Kribhco).

Over 3,000 farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), over 1,000 foreign buyers from more than 80 countries, and 2,500 exporters, millers, and allied industries are likely to participate in the event.

India produced around 150 million tonnes of rice in 2024–25 from nearly 47 million hectares, accounting for about 28 percent of global output. Average yields have improved from 2.72 tonnes per hectare in 2014–15 to about 3.2 tonnes per hectare in 2024–25, driven by improved seed varieties, better agronomic practices, and expanded irrigation coverage. In FY 2024–25, India exported 20.1 million metric tonnes of rice valued at approximately USD 12.95 billion, reaching more than 172 countries.

Highlighting the importance of rice in global food systems, BIRC 2025 underscores that rice is the backbone of global food security, with production having tripled since 1961—from 216 million tonnes to nearly 776 million tonnes. Over four billion people depend on rice for sustenance and income, and approximately 150 million smallholder farmers cultivate the crop across more than 100 countries. The global rice industry is valued at around USD 330 billion, making it the third most-traded food commodity.

Given that rice cultivation is resource-intensive—using nearly 24–30 percent of global irrigation water and spanning about 167 million hectares—the Conference will address innovations in agronomy, irrigation, certification, and traceability to promote sustainability and reduce the sector’s environmental footprint.

BIRC 2025 will include a broad spectrum of thematic activities and sessions. A coffee table book encapsulating India’s rich rice heritage—covering both Basmati and non-Basmati varieties, historical GI stories, farmer narratives, and innovations—will be unveiled at the event.

BIRC 2025 aims to unlock ₹1.80 lakh crore in new rice import markets and sign ₹25,000 crore worth of export MoUs. A Culinary Experience Zone, curated by IREF and APEDA with IRRI and ITC Hotels, will showcase Indian rice in international cuisines through chef demonstrations and tasting counters. Sensory panels and buyer clinics will assess quality and preferences, while instant export onboarding facilities will help convert interest into trade MoUs on the spot.

This programme aims to demonstrate that Indian rice varieties are authentic, high‑performance substitutes in target cuisines unlocking ₹1.80 lakh crore in new markets and catalysing ₹25,000 crore in export MoUs at the event.

TABLE 1: MARKETS IDENTIFIED FOR REDIRECTION TO INDIAN RICE VARIETIES

 Objective: Redirect a meaningful share of these purchases to Indian varieties through product–market fit demonstrations and rapid contracting.

Table 2: Country-wise Dishes & Matching Indian Rice Varieties showcased at the BIRC 2025

The Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025 will feature a dedicated AgriTech Pavilion, introducing India’s first AI-based sorting technology with a live launch and demonstration at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, on 30–31 October 2025. Unlike conventional colour sorters, this new system powered by Artificial Intelligence and Big Data analyses colour, shape, size, and structure of rice grains simultaneously, enabling both colour sorting and broken-grain segregation in a single process. The innovation promises higher precision, efficiency, and cost savings while reducing power, manpower, and space requirements.

A special Women Entrepreneur, Startup and MSME Pavilion will showcase innovations across the agricultural value chain, including seed and input development, climate-resilient agronomy, post-harvest technologies, milling and colour-grading systems, packaging and branding, quality and traceability through QR and blockchain solutions, digital marketplaces, and finance and insurance products. The Pavilion will feature live demonstrations, mentorship sessions, and export-onboarding opportunities for new enterprises.

State and Union Territory Pavilions from Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Telangana, Odisha, Meghalaya, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana will highlight GI and specialty rice varieties, sustainable cultivation methods, processing infrastructure, logistics corridors, investment prospects, and buyer-connect initiatives. In a State-led initiative to promote India’s rice diversity, the Government of Meghalaya will participate in BIRC 2025 to showcase its traditional rice varieties such as Pnah Iong (Black Sticky Rice), Mynri (Golden Rice of Ri-Bhoi), Mangsang Rice, Minil, and Khaw Biriun. These are cultivated under eco-friendly, rain-fed systems, reflecting the State’s focus on organic and sustainable agriculture. Meghalaya’s participation aligns with its efforts under the State Rice Mission and the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme (IBDLP) to enhance productivity, value addition, and market access for smallholder farmers while strengthening indigenous rice biodiversity.

Telangana will present its emergence as a major hub for premium rice exports, supported by robust policy measures and modern infrastructure. The State’s paddy production has grown from 68.17 lakh metric tonnes in KMS 2014–15 to an estimated 277.67 lakh metric tonnes in KMS 2024–25, positioning Telangana as a key player in India’s export-oriented agriculture. The State will engage in business discussions and showcase its leading varieties, including Telangana Sona (RNR 15048), BPT 5204 (Samba Mahsuri), MTU 1010, and KNM 1638, for potential international buyers.

Reinforcing the cooperative movement’s role in value creation, Bharat Organics under the aegis of National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) will launch its Organic Rice Range and Direct-to-Consumer platform at BIRC 2025. The range includes two flagship variants—Traditional Basmati and Traditional Brown Basmati—and ten single-origin varieties such as Kala Namak (Uttar Pradesh), Indrayani (Maharashtra), Gobindobhog (West Bengal), Black Rice (Manipur), and Red Matta (Kerala). Bharat Organics aims to provide certified, farmer-direct, chemical-free food products while ensuring fair trade, transparency, and better market access for small and marginal farmers.

To enhance ease of trade and global connectivity, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will promote its Trade Connect e-Platform at the event. The portal provides exporters a unified digital window for Certificates of Origin, country-specific tariff information, trade show listings, product and market guides, and networking tools to connect directly with international buyers and create custom microsites to enhance visibility.

A key milestone of BIRC 2025 will be the signing of a contract for establishing an Incubation and Agricultural Research Centre in New Delhi. The Centre will focus on sustainable, regenerative, and climate-resilient rice production, promoting research in seed development, cultivation, and post-harvest management. MoUs will also be signed to facilitate placements for agricultural graduates in research and development roles, strengthening innovation and employment in the agri-research ecosystem.

During the event, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will conduct a farmer training session on sustainable and good agricultural practices (GAPs). The session will focus on climate-smart farming, water-efficient cultivation, and soil health management to enhance productivity and environmental sustainability.

The Bharat International Rice Conference will henceforth be organised annually as a flagship platform for international engagement, policy dialogue, and collaboration across the global rice value chain.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) South Asia Regional Centre (IRRI-SARC), Varanasi, is the research and knowledge partner, while E&Y and S&P Global are knowledge partners. Partner countries for the event include the Philippines, Myanmar, Niger, Comoros, Jordan, Liberia, The Gambia, and Somalia.

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Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Nihi Sharma/ Ishita Biswas