Thailand May Lose 9 Million Tons Of Its Export Rice, Due To Flood

Thailand is estimated to lose its rice export potency by 9 million tons this year, due to the flood disaster.

 

Committee Head of Food Security at Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Fransciscus Welirang said about 50% of the local rice fields in Thailand, is facing puso (crop failure) risk due to the flood.

 

“With 50% rice fields in Thailand getting crop failure, on the other word, the country has missed one-time harvest,” he said in Jakarta yesterday.

 

Consequently, Thailand--which has been developing and conserving about 24,000 varieties of paddy--will lose its potency to export 9 million tons of rice.

 

Volume of rice export in Thailand is equivalent to its one-time harvest, while the remaining harvest is distributed for domestic needs and stocks.

 

Department of Foreign Trade at Thailand’s Commerce Ministry’s data showed total rice fields in Thailand reaches 9 million-11 million hectares, with output volume of 30 million-31 million tons of unhulled rice per year.

 

Meanwhile, Indonesia has 13 million hectare with output of 66.41 million tons of unhulled rice.

 

The global farmers mostly plant 'Jasmine Rice 105 type' paddy, which is considered as the best paddy variety among others and is the most popular in global markets.

 

 

Stagnant

 

Fransciscus viewed the global food productivity remained stagnant which isn’t along with the global population growth. In addition, until today there is no latest innovation on food yet.

 

“Food production is on declining trend. In Indonesia, the farming area is reduced, as well as the farming area in the world,” he said.

 

Food security always depend on the availability of water and energy sources. In such condition, he estimated the global food loss after harvest reached 30%, while the food loss after Thailand harvest may reach 50%. 

 

He affirmed the global issue on food will affect Indonesia. “That’s why China starts investing actively on food in Brazil, as well as Saudi Arabia that also invest rice in Ethiopia and corn in Australia,” he exposed.