Telangana Emerging as a Hub for Non-Basmati Rice Exports

24-Mar-2026 12:25 PM

Hyderabad: Just as states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand account for massive exports of premium-quality Basmati rice, states such as Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh are responsible for the vast shipment of general-grade non-Basmati rice. It is thanks to these very states that India continues to hold its position as the world's leading exporter of rice.

The southern Indian state of Telangana has, in recent years, emerged as a prominent hub for rice exports. According to Telangana's Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies, vigorous efforts are currently underway to promote rice exports as part of the state government's long-term policy.

The primary objective of this policy is to reduce dependence on the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and to sell surplus rice stocks in the international market. In fact, disputes frequently arise between the Telangana government and the FCI regarding the procurement of these surplus stocks.

The Telangana government advocates that any rice stocks remaining in the state—after the FCI has completed its procurement—should be exported to the international market.

Telangana is achieving considerable success in this endeavor. The state government is actively promoting rice from Telangana as a premium brand to ensure it fetches better market prices and, in turn, helps boost farmers' incomes.

Under a government-to-government agreement, 22,750 tonnes of rice were exported from Telangana to the Philippines at a unit price of ₹3,600 per quintal.