ISLAMABAD: Rice exports by Pakistan this year are poised to exceed the 2015 level by 7 per cent to reach 4.4 million tonnes, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

In a report on Pakistan, the FAO said cumulative rice deliveries in the first seven months of 2016 are officially put at 2.5m tonnes, up 13pc from the same period in 2015.

Harvesting of the 2016 monsoon season crops, including rice and maize, is currently under way and will continue until early December. The FAO forecasts the 2016 paddy and maize outputs will remain close to their 2015 levels -- 10.3m tonnes and 4.9m tonnes, respectively.

These output levels are the result of generally favourable weather conditions during the cropping season coupled with adequate water supply for irrigation and availability of fertilisers, the report said. Wheat exports for the 2016-17 marketing year are forecast to increase from last year’s low level to 850,000 tonnes.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2016