The Two Faces of Indian Agriculture: Excess Grains, Scarce Essentials

An unprecedented imbalance continues to define India’s agricultural economy. On one hand, the country enjoys a massive surplus of rice and wheat, consistently producing more than domestic requirements. India has emerged as the world’s leading producer of paddy, while government granaries remain stocked far above prescribed buffer norms. Even after sustaining one of the world’s largest food security programmes for nearly 800 million people, the country remains a major exporter of cereals and has increasingly diverted excess grain stocks toward ethanol production.