El Niño effect forecasted to lower Thai rice production in 2023-24

The Agricultural Economics Office of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry in Thailand has forecasted a decline in rice production for the 2023-24 harvest season. The expected drop is approximately 871,000 tonnes, a decrease of 3.27%, totalling 25.8 million tonnes. This significant decrease is primarily due to the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Deputy Secretary-General of the Agricultural Economics Department, Tantita Bunyamaneekul, has reported a reduction in the country’s rice cultivation area for the 2023-24 crop year, which totalled 62.4 million rai. This is a reduction of 602,000 rai or 0.96% from the previous year. The harvest area is projected to be around 59.6 million rai, down 316,000 rai or 0.53% from the previous year.

This decrease in cultivation area is largely due to changes in weather conditions, which have…