Asia’s rice output is expected to drop...

Asia’s rice output is expected to drop by 17 million tons this year because of delayed and irregular monsoon rains, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says. The Food Outlook report for October said Asia is expected to produce 416 million tons of its staple crop this year. While drought has been the enemy in most Asian countries, heavy rains and floods are expected to slash output in Bangladesh to its lowest level in 10 years, the report said. Among the major rice-growing countries, only Burma, China and Japan have fared comparatively well, it said.