South Korea's rice output is expected to drop by 1.2 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year, primarily due to a shrinking cultivation area, according to the country's statistical office. The estimated rice production for this year stands at 3,657,000 tons, down from 3,702,000 tons in 2023. This marks the third consecutive year of declining rice production in South Korea. The reduction in rice output can be attributed to the ongoing decline in rice paddies. The total area dedicated to rice cultivation in South Korea shrank by 1.5 per cent to 697,714 hectares in 2024, reaching the lowest level since records began in 1965. Changing dietary habits have contributed to a decrease in rice consumption in recent decades. The average per-capita rice consumption in 2023 was 56.4 kg, the lowest since data collection began in 1962. Attribution: Xinhua Subediting: M. S. Salama
