Rice production in Burma may decline by up to 40 percent from last year in some states due to flooding and insect attacks.

Local sources say that rice harvests in Mon and Karen states of Myanmar are down 40 percent this year compared to those in 2012-13. Farmers along the Done-Tha-Mi river say wet season flooding this year along with heavy rains and insect plagues are liekly to cause severe rice shortages in the region.

Rice yields in around 30 villages from the eastern region of Done-Tha-Mi River are likely to drop by around 43 percent this year compared to the previous year, according to farmers. Open market rice prices are high this year, but farmers say they cannot take advantage of the prices because of low production, most of which will be used to feed their families.

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However, US Department of Agriculture projections for Burmese rice production remains unchanged. According to the USDA, Burma’s rice production in 2013-14 is expected to increase to around 11 million tons, up about 3 percent from around 10.6 million tons in 2012-13.

Consumption in Burma is estimated at around 10.25 million tons in 2013-14, and exports are projected to reach around 750,000 tons.

This article first appeared on Oryza website on 7 January 2014. Oryza is the global leader in data and industry news concerning rice and is an industry partner of DVB.