The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lowered the 2002-03 global rice production forecast by one million tonnes to 381.1 million tonnes (milled basis), a drop of almost four per cent compared to the year before.
The projection have been lowered taking into account the decrease in crop output in India, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.
This is the third consecutive year of declining global rice production. Production is projected to be almost seven per cent below the 1999-2000 record of 408.7 million tons.
India accounts for the bulk of this month