World rice production is expected to touch a record 480.5 million tonnes (mt) this year on the back of higher output in Asia, Egypt, Argentina, Mozambique, the US and Russian Federation, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
“The outlook for global rice production in 2011 has improved over the past two months and the latest FAO forecast has been raised by 1.6 mt to 480.5 mt (milled rice basis), three per cent up from 2010 and a new record,” FAO said.
In its last 'Crop Prospects and Food Situation' report in June, 2011, the FAO had estimated global rice production in 2011 at 476 mt.
The improved output reflects better crop prospects in China, Egypt, Argentina, Cambodia, Mozambique, the Russian Federation and the United States, the FAO said in its latest crop prospects report for October.
The global body expects production in Asia, including India, to rise.
FAO has forecast that production in Asia will increase on the back of favourable growing conditions and attractive prices in all major rice producing countries, particularly Bangladesh, China, India and Indonesia. India has projected a record 87.1 mt of rice production in this kharif season (June-October), as monsoon was widespread and the acreage under paddy sowing has gone up.