ng of the 2013/14 main wet season paddy crop began in early December and will continue in some areas up to February.The preliminary official estimates put the 2013 main season paddy crop at a record level of 7.3 million tonnes, up 1.7 per cent on last year’s bumper output of the same season, reports FAO.
The increase is mainly attributed to an estimated 3.3 per cent expansion in plantings. However, heavy monsoon rains during September and October 2013 resulted in localised flooding across northern parts of the Mekong River Basin.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) the floods are estimated to have damaged close to 128 000 hectares of paddy crop (or 5 per cent of the total cropped area for the main season), particularly in Battambang, Banteay Meanchay and Siem Reap, important rice growing provinces.
Planting of the 2013/14 secondary dry season (irrigated) paddy crop is nearing completion. A preliminary official estimates, as of end-December, indicate that 472 483 have been planted under rice crop, some 4.6 per cent below the area planted at the same period in 2013.
The decrease in planted area is mainly a result of below average rains in December 2013. Official reports indicate adequate provision of seeds and yield promoting inputs which are expected to assist crop productivity.
The aggregate 2013/14 rice output, including the ongoing main and secondary seasons, is officially forecast at a record level of 9.3 million tonnes, slightly above last year’s bumper level.
Harvesting of the 2013 maize crop was completed by October 2013.
Latest official estimates point to a harvest of 911 127 tonnes, some 4 per cent below last year’s level. The decrease in production is mainly attributed to a 6 per cent decline in the planted area, as a result of farmers switching to rice crop. There is a decrease in area planted to maize for the third consecutive year in row.
Overall, the cereal output for 2013 is estimated at 10.3 million tonnes.
