SPORTS · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
South Korea's Farmers Face Below-Average Paddy Production Amid Favorable Weather
WHY IT MATTERS
The below-average paddy production forecast may impact South Korea's food security and lead to increased cereal imports, which could have significant implications for the country's agricultural sector and economy.
What happened
South Korea's agricultural sector is facing a challenging year, with below-average paddy production forecast for 2026. Despite favorable weather conditions, the area planted to paddy is anticipated to decline slightly year-on-year as the government promotes alternative crops.
Above-average precipitation amounts are forecast between October and December 2026, which may favor planting activities and support crop growth.
The country's cereal import requirements for the 2026/27 marketing year are forecast at slightly above-average levels, driven by sustained demand from the domestic feed industry.
PRIMARY SOURCES
GIEWS Country Brief: Republic of Korea, 02-September-2026
ReliefWeb / original provider · Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations · ReliefWeb aggregation; original provider terms apply; link and attribution to the named source required