Australia Rice Output Down By Almost 90%

According to Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE), rice crop in the country are likely to register a drop by almost 90 % and cotton production will fall 58 % in the current year as a result of water shortages in the southern region of the country.

According to ABARE, the national commodities forecaster, lack of irrigation water at the time of planting caused by Australia's long-running drought meant that only 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of rice was planted last year.
 
Rice production in 2007-08 is forecast at 18,000 MT, about 90 % lower than the 2006-07 harvests.