Nanoparticles of silicon carbide were produced through direct pyrolysis of stoichiometerically balanced rice husk. Rice husk used in this study was treated with different type and amount of silica source in order to enhance the silica/carbon ratio and thereby increase the yield. The synthesis was carried out in argon atmosphere. To increase the yield, different process parameters were identified and experiments were conducted at various levels using Taguchi design. The process parameters optimized using this design include silica source, pyrolysis temperature, silica content and heating rate. Silicon carbide produced from rice husk was analyzed using X - ray diffraction to identify the phase. From taguchi factor effect diagram it has been found that pyrolysis temperature and silica source plays major role in improving the yield. © (2012) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.