date:Jun 09, 2014
Planting of the 2014 rice crop has just started and is expected to continue until June.
Early indications show that the area planted is to remain similar to last years level. Assuming normal weather and about average yields, FAO tentatively forecasts this years production at 5.7 million tonnes.
The area planted to paddy has been declining since early 2000 and particularly in recent years, as farmers shifted to more profitable crops and more land was converted to other uses. In addition to rice