India Leads Global Rice Cultivation with 46.4 Million Hectares

Table of contents

Abstract
Land use of millet (around the world)
Millet land use (latest year, countries around the world)
Millet land use (continent)
Millet land use (latest year, mainland)
Main data
Reference

Abstract

Millet cultivation, a cornerstone of dryland agriculture, has seen fluctuating trends influenced by climate, policy, and dietary shifts. Historically, millet has been a staple for regions prone to drought due to its resilience and low water needs. India, the world’s largest producer, has consistently led in millet cultivation, maintaining the largest area under cultivation at 8.49 million hectares in 2022. Despite global declines in millet areas over the decades due to the shift toward high-yield crops like rice and wheat, millet is regaining attention for its nutritional value and climate adaptability, with renewed interest in promoting it as a sustainable food source amid growing environmental challenges.

Land use of millet (around the world)

Millet cultivation has undergone significant shifts from 1961 to 2022, reflecting changes in agricultural priorities and food systems. India, the largest contributor, recorded a peak area of 20.9 million hectares in 1973 but has since declined to 8.49 million hectares in 2022, representing 40.7% of its peak. This reduction aligns with global trends as high-yield crops like wheat and rice gained prominence, supported by subsidies and market demand. Despite this decline, millet remains critical in arid regions due to its drought resistance and adaptability. Recent efforts to promote millet as a climate-resilient and nutritious crop signal potential for renewed interest in its cultivation.

The maximum is 1.46G[2021] of China, and the current value is about 97.8%

Millet land use (latest year, countries around the world)

Millet cultivation in 2022 highlights its continued importance in global agriculture, particularly in dryland regions. India dominates, with 8.49 million hectares under millet cultivation, far exceeding the global average of 396,000 hectares and accounting for over a quarter of the total 30.1 million hectares worldwide. This reflects India’s reliance on millet as a drought-resilient staple crop. However, global trends show a decline in millet cultivation due to the rise of high-yield cereals like rice and wheat. Recently, millet has gained renewed attention for its nutritional benefits and climate adaptability, positioning it as a key crop in sustainable agriculture strategies.

The maximum is 1.43G of China, the average is 80.3M, and the total is 6.02G

Millet land use (continent)

Millet has long been a vital crop in Asia, characterized by its adaptability to arid climates and poor soils. Since 1961, Asia has consistently led global millet cultivation, peaking at 28.7 million hectares. The latest data shows a resurgence, with the current area marking a new high, underscoring the region’s continued reliance on this drought-resistant staple. Over the decades, however, millet’s prominence declined as high-yield crops like rice and wheat were prioritized. Recently, growing recognition of millet’s nutritional value and climate resilience has revitalized interest, positioning it as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture in the face of global environmental challenges.

The maximum is the latest one, 4.72G of Asia

Millet land use (latest year, mainland)

Millet cultivation remains a cornerstone of African agriculture, with the continent leading globally in 2022 at 19 million hectares, far surpassing the global average of 4.98 million hectares and contributing to a total of 29.9 million hectares. Known for its drought resistance and adaptability to poor soils, millet is essential for food security in arid and semi-arid regions. While millet’s global significance has waned due to the rise of high-yield crops like wheat and maize, Africa has maintained its strong focus on this resilient crop. Growing global interest in millet’s nutritional value and climate adaptability may further bolster its importance.

The maximum is 4.72G of Asia, the average is 1.47G, and the total is 7.37G

Main data

Others(Millet, Population) [G]
	World	Asia	Lower-middle-income countries	Upper-middle-income countries	Southern Asia	Net Food Importing Developing Countries	Eastern Asia	China	India	Africa
2022	7.98	4.72	3.45	2.56				1.43	1.42	1.43
2021	7.91	4.68	3.41	2.55	1.99	1.7	1.66	1.46	1.41	1.37
2020	7.84	4.65	3.37	2.54	1.97	1.67	1.66	1.46	1.4	1.34
2019	7.76	4.61	3.33	2.53	1.95	1.63	1.66	1.45	1.38	1.3
2018	7.68	4.57	3.28	2.52	1.93	1.59	1.66	1.45	1.37	1.26
2017	7.6	4.53	3.24	2.5	1.9	1.56	1.65	1.44	1.35	1.23
2016	7.51	4.48	3.19	2.48	1.88	1.53	1.64	1.43	1.34	1.2
2015	7.43	4.44	3.14	2.46	1.86	1.5	1.63	1.43	1.32	1.17
2014	7.34	4.39	3.1	2.44	1.83	1.46	1.62	1.42	1.31	1.14
2013	7.25	4.35	3.05	2.42	1.81	1.43	1.61	1.41	1.29	1.11
2012	7.16	4.3	3.01	2.4	1.79	1.4	1.6	1.4	1.27	1.08
2011	7.07	4.25	2.96	2.38	1.76	1.34	1.59	1.39	1.26	1.02
2010	6.99	4.2	2.91	2.36	1.74	1.31	1.58	1.38	1.24	0.99
2009	6.9	4.09	2.87	2.35	1.66	1.21	1.58	1.38	1.22	0.91
2008	6.81	4.04	2.82	2.33	1.64	1.19	1.58	1.37	1.21	0.89
2007	6.73	4	2.78	2.31	1.61	1.17	1.57	1.36	1.19	0.87
2006	6.64	3.96	2.74	2.29	1.59	1.14	1.56	1.36	1.17	0.85
2005	6.56	3.91	2.69	2.28	1.57	1.12	1.55	1.35	1.15	0.83
2004	6.48	3.87	2.65	2.26	1.55	1.1	1.54	1.34	1.14	0.81
2003	6.39	3.83	2.6	2.24	1.52	1.08	1.53	1.33	1.12	0.79
2002	6.31	3.78	2.56	2.23	1.5	1.06	1.52	1.32	1.1	0.77
2001	6.23	3.74	2.51	2.21	1.47	1.03	1.51	1.32	1.08	0.75
2000	6.15	3.69	2.47	2.19	1.45	1.01	1.51	1.31	1.06	0.74
1999	6.07	3.65	2.42	2.17	1.42	0.99	1.5	1.3	1.04	0.72
1998	5.99	3.6	2.38	2.16	1.4	0.97	1.49	1.29	1.02	0.7
1997	5.91	3.56	2.33	2.14	1.37	0.95	1.48	1.29	1	0.68
1996	5.83	3.51	2.29	2.12	1.35	0.93	1.47	1.28	0.98	0.67
1995	5.74	3.46	2.24	2.1	1.32	0.9	1.46	1.27	0.96	0.65
1994	5.66	3.41	2.2	2.08	1.29	0.88	1.45	1.25	0.95	0.64
1993	5.58	3.36	2.15	2.05	1.27	0.86	1.43	1.24	0.93	0.62
1992	5.49	3.31	2.11	2.03	1.24	0.85	1.42	1.23	0.91	0.61
1991	5.41	3.18	2.07	2.01	1.22	0.82	1.4	1.21	0.89	0.6
1990	5.32	3.13	2.02	1.98	1.19	0.8	1.38	1.19	0.87	0.58
1989	5.22	3.07	1.98	1.95	1.17	0.78	1.36	1.17	0.85	0.57
1988	5.13	3.01	1.93	1.92	1.14	0.76	1.34	1.15	0.83	0.55
1987	5.04	2.95	1.89	1.88	1.11	0.74	1.31	1.13	0.82	0.54
1986	4.95	2.89	1.84	1.85	1.09	0.72	1.29	1.11	0.8	0.52
1985	4.86	2.83	1.8	1.82	1.06	0.71	1.27	1.09	0.78	0.51
1984	4.78	2.77	1.76	1.79	1.04	0.69	1.25	1.07	0.76	0.49
1983	4.69	2.72	1.72	1.76	1.01	0.67	1.23	1.05	0.75	0.48
1982	4.61	2.67	1.67	1.73	0.99	0.65	1.21	1.04	0.73	0.47
1981	4.52	2.61	1.63	1.71	0.97	0.63	1.2	1.02	0.71	0.45
1980	4.44	2.56	1.59	1.68	0.94	0.62	1.18	1.01	0.7	0.44
1979	4.37	2.51	1.55	1.65	0.92	0.6	1.16	0.99	0.68	0.43
1978	4.29	2.47	1.51	1.63	0.9	0.59	1.15	0.98	0.67	0.42
1977	4.22	2.42	1.48	1.6	0.88	0.57	1.13	0.97	0.65	0.41
1976	4.14	2.37	1.44	1.58	0.86	0.56	1.12	0.95	0.64	0.4
1975	4.07	2.32	1.41	1.55	0.83	0.55	1.1	0.93	0.62	0.39
1974	4	2.27	1.38	1.52	0.82	0.53	1.08	0.92	0.61	0.38
1973	3.92	2.22	1.35	1.49	0.8	0.52	1.06	0.9	0.6	0.37
1972	3.84	2.17	1.32	1.46	0.78	0.51	1.03	0.88	0.58	0.36
1971	3.77	2.12	1.29	1.43	0.76	0.49	1.01	0.85	0.57	0.35
1970	3.7	2.07	1.26	1.4	0.74	0.48	0.98	0.83	0.56	0.34
1969	3.62	2.02	1.23	1.37	0.73	0.47	0.96	0.81	0.55	0.33
1968	3.55	1.97	1.2	1.34	0.71	0.46	0.93	0.79	0.53	0.32
1967	3.48	1.92	1.17	1.31	0.69	0.45	0.91	0.77	0.52	0.31
1966	3.41	1.88	1.14	1.28	0.68	0.44	0.89	0.75	0.51	0.31
1965	3.34	1.83	1.12	1.25	0.66	0.42	0.87	0.73	0.5	0.3
1964	3.27	1.79	1.09	1.22	0.65	0.41	0.85	0.71	0.49	0.29
1963	3.2	1.75	1.07	1.18	0.63	0.4	0.83	0.7	0.48	0.28
1962	3.13	1.72	1.04	1.15	0.62	0.39	0.82	0.69	0.47	0.28
1961	3.07	1.69	1.02	1.13	0.61	0.38	0.81	0.68	0.46	0.27