Chirag Paswan Urges Value Addition at Rice Conference

Union Minister Chirag Paswan opened the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on October 23. Paswan called for a strategic shift in the rice sector, moving from a focus on high production volumes toward value addition, research, and technological innovation. He noted that while India accounts for nearly 40 percent of global rice trade, the country must improve product quality, traceability, and sustainability to strengthen its market position.

Paswan identified the food processing sector and the rice industry as critical to the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, stating the government aims to position India as a "global food basket." He advocated for the domestic manufacture of machinery to reduce reliance on imported technology and emphasized the role of Free Trade Agreements in strengthening export relations to meet global hunger needs.

Former President Ram Nath Kovind also addressed the conference, urging India to transition from a leading producer to a global leader in quality and sustainable cultivation. Kovind emphasized the need to modernize the entire value chain—from seeds to transportation—to reduce post-harvest losses and combat climate change. He argued that growth at the global level must create meaningful gains at the village level to ensure inclusive prosperity.

Organized by the Indian Rice Exporters' Federation, the three-day event attracted over 32,000 registrations, including nearly 4,900 buyers from 153 countries, to explore new markets and assess the 2027 global rice price outlook.