FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops and Shortages 06/02 - VIET NAM (4 June)
The area sown to rice is progressively declining as farmers shift land to other crops such as maize and soybeans to increase animal feed supplies. In the southern provinces the area reduction occurred mainly in the Mekong River Delta where some rice land was converted into aquaculture or used for more profitable economic activities.
Harvesting of the winter/spring paddy crop in the Mekong River Delta is due for completion at the end of June. Favourable weather, the use of high-yielding varieties and adequate availability of inputs are expected to result in increased paddy output. This improvement in output in the Mekong River Delta should offset the lower production in the other southern regions where yields were adversely affected by dry weather in April. The winter/spring paddy crop in the northern provinces is reportedly in good condition. The aggregate paddy production in 2002 is forecast at 32.3 million tonnes, slightly above last year’s harvest.
The rice export target for this year is 3.8 million tonnes compared to 3.5 million tonnes exported in 2001. However, in the first quarter of 2002 exports of rice were only about 60 percent of the amount delivered in the same period last year, mainly due to low market supplies. Thus, total rice exports in 2002 are likely to be sharply below the target.