Asia's rice output drops

Asia's rice output drops

BANGKOK (DPA): Asia's rice production in 1998 was 510 million
tons, 16 million tons less than in 1997, the Food and Drug
Organization (FAO) announced Monday.

The estimated figure was revised downwards due to lower than
expected output in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.

Floods in India and Bangladesh during the latter part of 1998
damaged paddy fields, dropping production estimates by one
million and four million tons respectively, said the FAO's Food
Outlook report for February 1999.

The Philippines' rice output for 1998 was estimated at 10.2
million tons, down by some 500,000 tons, due to drought
conditions in the early part of the year created by the El Nio
weather phenomenon.

"In Indonesia, harvesting of the 1998 second season crop is
virtually complete and output is estimated at 46.4 million tons,
down from 49.4 million tons produced in 1997," said the FAO
report.