SOUTH KOREA – Harvesting of the 2014 rice crop is almost complete. FAO forecasts the 2014 rice production (in paddy terms) at 5.5 million tonnes, 2 percent below last year’s good outcome.
Assuming average yields, the anticipated decrease is attributed to a 2 percent contraction in plantings.
The area planted to paddy has been declining since 2002, particularly in recent years, as farmers shift to more profitable crops and more land is converted to other uses.
According to official data, the area planted to rice decreased by 23 percent in 2014 compared to the 1.1 million hectares planted in 2002.
In addition to rice, small quantities of barley, maize and other cereals are produced.
TheCropSite News Desk
