Rice production is down 3.2% this year...Minimum rice cultivation area ever

Rice production has declined for three consecutive years due to reduced rice cultivation area and damage from pests.

The National Statistical Office said rice production this year was 3.585 million tons, down 3.2% from last year.The cultivation area of

rice decreased by 1.5% to 697,000 hectares, the smallest since the related statistics were compiled in 1975.

The government is encouraging farmers to grow other crops instead of rice to balance the supply and demand of rice, which is a surplus crop.

South Jeolla Province had the highest rice production of 709,000 tons, followed by South Chungcheong Province with 706,000 tons and North Jeolla Province with 545,000 tons.