Rice production is expected to decline by 1.2% this year...1.5% less cultivated area

Rice production was expected to decrease for the third year this year due to a decrease in cultivation area.

The National Statistical Office predicts rice production this year will be 3.657 million tonnes, down 1.2% from last year.

According to the National Statistical Office's forecast, rice production will be reduced for three consecutive years starting in 2022.

The decrease in production was mainly affected by a 1.5% reduction in cultivation area to 697,000 hectares.The area of

rice cultivation is decreasing due to the strategic crop direct payment system or the supply and demand balance policy.

This year's cultivation area is the smallest ever since 1965 when related statistics were published.

By city and province, rice production is expected to be the highest in the order of Chungnam, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk.Rice consumption of

continued to decrease, with an average of 56.4kg compared to rice consumption per capita last year, the lowest ever.