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DE-HYPHENATING RICE-WHEAT DYNAMICS

Why in the News?

• Diverging Trends: Rice and wheat, traditionally grouped as cereals, are facing different challenges—wheat with production issues and rice with surplus problems.
• Changing Dynamics: Wheat production is declining due to climatic vulnerabilities, while rice stocks are at an all-time high despite record exports.

Source: College Duniya

Production and Consumption Divergence:

• Wheat’s Challenges: Wheat’s production is constrained geographically and seasonally, making it more volatile due to climate change, while consumption is rising.
• Rice’s Surplus: India’s rice surplus has led to high stock levels despite exports, with rice production more stable across various states and seasons.

Policy Implications and Recommendations:

• Need for Separate Approaches: Experts suggest de-hyphenating policy strategies for rice and wheat due to their differing challenges.
• Future Outlook: For wheat, boosting yields and developing climate-resilient varieties is crucial, while rice policies should focus on managing excess stocks and lifting export restrictions.