South Korea’s rice production projected to fall for 3rd year in 2024

South Korea's rice output is projected to fall for the third consecutive year in 2024 due mainly to the decrease in cultivation area, data showed Friday, Yonhap reports.

Rice production is expected to fall 3.2 percent on-year to 3.59 million tons this year, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.

The country's rice output has been on a steady decline since 2022.

The expected decline this year comes as the total size of rice paddies slid 1.5 percent on-year to a record low of 698,000 hectares, as the government has been implementing measures to balance supply and demand of rice, such as giving subsidies to farmers who raise "strategic crops," like wheat, beans and rice flour.

Despite a drop in overall output, output per 100 square meters is expected to increase 1.8 percent on-year to 514 kilograms in 2024, according to the agency.

Rice is a key staple food for Koreans, but its consumption has been on a steady decline in recent decades due mainly to changes in diet and eating habits.