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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
Farmers cast urea fertiliser in a rice plantation in the central state of Cojede, Venezuela.

Rice is a major food staple and a mainstay for the rural population and their food security. It is mainly cultivated by small farmers in holdings of less than one hectare.

Rice is also a wage commodity for workers in the cash crop or non-agricultural sectors. Rice is vital for the nutrition of much of the population in Asia, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Africa; it is central to the food security of over half the world population. Developing countries account for 95 per cent of the total production.

Let's take a look at some of the major rice producers in the world.

Source: Wikipedia

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
An aerial view shows vehicles travelling on intersections at night in downtown Shanghai, China.

China

Annual production: 202.6 million metric tonne

Global rank: 1

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
Tourists take a boat ride amid dense fog at Sukhana Lake on a cold winter morning in Chandigarh.

India

Annual production: 155.7 million metric tonne

Global rank: 2

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
An aerial view of Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta.

Indonesia

Annual production: 65.7 million metric tonne

Global rank: 3

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
Waves approach the shore along the southern district of Cox's Bazaar in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh

Annual production: 50.6 million metric tonne

Global rank: 4

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
Stone statues of Buddhist arhats sit on a truck at Bai Dinh pagoda in Ninh Binh province, 100km south of Hanoi, Vietnam.

Vietnam

Annual production: 42.3 million metric tonne

Global rank: 5

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
A skytrain passes over vehicles on the road in Bangkok, Thailand.

Thailand

Annual production: 34.5 million metric tonne

Global rank: 6

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
People walk on a wooden bridge in Kandawgyi Lake at Yangon in Burma.

Myanmar

Annual production: 32.8 million metric tonne

Global rank: 7

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
A night view of Manila's Makati financial district in the Philippines.

The Philippines

Annual production: 16.6 million metric tonne

Global rank: 8

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
A view of buildings in Refice, Brazil.

Brazil

Annual production: 13.4 million metric tonne

Global rank: 9

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
An overview of Phnom Penh city and the Mekong river in Cambodia.

Cambodia

Annual production: 8.7 million metric tonne

Global rank: 10

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
Mt Fuji, covered with snow, is seen through Shinjuku skyscrapers in Tokyo, Japan.

Japan

Annual production: 8.4 million metric tonne

Global rank: 11

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
Skyline of New York's Lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center in the United States.

The United States

Annual production: 8.3 million metric tonne

Global rank: 12

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
A view shows part of central Seoul in South Korea.

South Korea

Annual production: 6.3 million metric tonne

Global rank: 13

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
A computer screen is reflected in the glass window of a booth where a broker monitors the market while talking on a mobile phone at the Karachi Stock Exchange.

Pakistan

Annual production: 6.1 million metric tonne

Global rank: 14

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
A view of the Nile river flowing through the Egyptian capital Cairo.

Egypt

Annual production: 5.6 million metric tonne

Global rank: 15

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
Madagascar's old colonial church in the capital Antananarivo.

Madagascar

Annual production: 5.0 million metric tonne

Global rank: 16

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
An aerial view shows the central business district in Nigeria's commercial capital of Lagos.

Nigeria

Annual production: 4.5 million metric tonne

Global rank: 17

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
Houses built at the hilltop of the ancient city of Kirtipur are pictured in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Nepal

Annual production: 4.4 million metric tonne

Global rank: 18

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
A view of the mountain town and major tourist attraction of Kandy, 116km from Colombo in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

Annual production: 3.8 million metric tonne

Global rank: 19

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20 biggest rice producers in the world

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 09:31 IST
A view of buildings in north western Tehran, Iran.

Iran

Annual production: 3.2 million metric tonne

Global rank: 20