Reference Date: 17-February-2025

Planting of 2025 first paddy crop underway, amid dry weather conditions in major cropping areas along coastal area

Planting of 2025 first paddy crops is nearing completion and sown area is estimated at an above-average level. Dry weather conditions and higher-than-average temperatures are generating soil moisture deficits, slowing down the pace of planting operations in major cropping areas of eastern coastal regions. However, weather forecasts for the February to March period, coinciding with crop germination and development stages, point to abundant precipitations, that are expected to repleninsh soil moisture levels. In addition, the government planned the distribution of free fertilizers through the budget allocation of GYD 3.8 billion (about 18.2 USD million) as well as the introduction of new high-yielding rice varieties , with the aim to offset the negative impact of dryness on crop production prospects.

Paddy production in 2024 estimated at record-high level

Harvesting of the 2024 second paddy crop, that accounts for about half of the total annual output, finalized in November 2024. Production is estimated at an above-average level, reflecting large sowings, incouraged by favourable weather conditions at planting time in the May to June period. Annual paddy production in 2024 increased for the fourth consecutive year and it is estimated at a record-high level of 1.12 million tonnes, due to large plantings and excellent yields.

Rice exports increased for third consecutive year in 2024

Rice is the country’s most important exportable agricultural commodity and, on average, about half of the annual production is exported. In the 2024 marketing year (January/December), exports are estimated to have increased for the third consecutive year, on account of a growing exportable surplus from the record-high 2024 harvest. Rice exports are forecast to continue growing in 2024/25, in line with favourable paddy production prospects.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:
FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) https://www.ipcinfo.org/ .