2014 El Niño Threatens Global Rice Production

2014-02-25 Developments

2014-02-25 09:33 |
source: China Grain Network |

according to the United Nations World Meteorological Organization on February 24, global meteorological scientists have recorded the temperature rise in the Pacific Ocean and said that El Nino may occur in the second half of this year, when some major rice producing countries will plant rice crops.

According to the WMO, preliminary findings indicate that an El Niño phenomenon could develop in the coming months. El Niño usually leads to drought in the main rice producing areas of Asia and Australia, while some parts of South America may experience excessive rainfall. The last El Niño was in 2009, and the phenomenon is usually two to seven years apart.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects global rice production to be about 0.4715 billion tons in 2014, 500000 tons higher than the expected consumption of 0.471 billion tons. Global opening stocks of rice are estimated at 0.1068 billion tons.