Paddy sowing is likely to decrease in Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand
MUMBAI: There is yet another bad news for countries dependent on imports for rice. Due to El Nino conditions, Indonesia is witnessing the lowest rainfall since 2019 due to which farmers are reported to be switching from paddy crops to other crops including maize. Paddy cultivation is also reported to be affected in Thailand and Vietnam.
A drop in production in Indonesia could lead to a global rice shortage as India's ban on exports of non-basmati white rice is set to make it difficult for many countries in the world to get rice supplies easily.
Farmers in one of Indonesia's main rice-producing centers are shifting rice crops to crops with lower water requirements. Rice crop requires abundant amount of water. Due to El Niño, there is a possibility of rice shortage in the Asia region. Rice prices in the Asian region have risen to a three-year high after India imposed a ban on rice exports.
As Indonesia strives to become self-sufficient in rice, low rainfall conditions will not allow it to achieve this goal and it will have to turn to more rice imports.
Rice planting in Indonesia is expected to decrease to 2 lakh hectares this year from 7.5 lakh hectares. Not only in Indonesia but also in Thailand and Vietnam, high temperatures and low rainfall have affected paddy sowing. Apart from India, Thailand and Vietnam are also major exporters of rice.
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