Laos’ rice exports expected to fall following 2018 floods
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Laos is anticipating reduced income from rice exports in 2019 in the wake of widespread flooding across the country last year.
The country set a target of US$45.6 million for rice exports last year but could only achieve US$31.4 million, according to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
This year, the government is expecting to earn only US$25.2 million from rice exports, a significant decline compared to last year’s figure.
Low rice yields in 16 provinces have been attributed to widespread flooding in the rainy season, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reported.
Some 101,000 hectares of rice were affected by last year’s floods, about 12 percent of the total planted area of 817,800 hectares.
News Desk
