Pakistan registered a slight decline in its rice production as the country produced an estimated 5.438 million MT during the current crop season against the set target of 5.5 million MT.

According to Chairman of Rice Export Association of Pakistan (REAP) Muhammad Azhar Akhtar, almost 20 % of the rice crop has been damaged due to water shortage and infected by bugs and viruses this season.

Pakistan government had set a rice production target for the year 2007-08 at 5.7 million MT as against 5.4 million MT last year but later revised its decision and set a new target of 5.5 million MT.