Rice production to miss forecast on India drought
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
NEW YORK, Sept. 15 (Bloomberg): Rice output in India, the world's second-biggest producer, will decline 7 per cent more than forecast next year because of a drought in the main growing regions, the US Foreign Agricultural Service said.
Production will be 82 million metric tons in the year starting Oct. 1, compared with 88 million tons forecast early last month, the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service said in a report. India harvested a record 99.2 million tons of rice in the 2008-09 season, it said.
"Most of the decline in rice production will be in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which after a prolonged drought is now facing floods in some parts," the USDA said. "Rainfall distribution in the major rice surplus states of Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh was also significantly below normal.
Production will be 82 million metric tons in the year starting Oct. 1, compared with 88 million tons forecast early last month, the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service said in a report. India harvested a record 99.2 million tons of rice in the 2008-09 season, it said.
"Most of the decline in rice production will be in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which after a prolonged drought is now facing floods in some parts," the USDA said. "Rainfall distribution in the major rice surplus states of Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh was also significantly below normal.