Top Rice News: Global Production Falls, & Cuba-Vietnam Rice Project Impact

Top rice news today underscores the projection showing a fall in global rice production for the first time in the decade, as the largest falls are seen in India, Myanmar and the US. Meanwhile, Cuba and Vietnam launched a joint rice cultivation project to strengthen the domestic food production and expand agricultural development on the island.

Global Rice Production Set To Fall For First Time In A Decade

According to sources, global rice production is projected to fall for the first time in the decade. It leads to tightening the supplies of one of the world’s major food staples. On Tuesday, May 12, the United States Department of Agriculture stated in the global crop report that output in the coming 2026-27 season is seen at about 538 million tons, the first decrease in 11 years. The largest falls are seen in India, Myanmar and the US. In these regions, the harvest is seen falling 15% from last year as farmers plant less. The falls, combined with record consumption and trade, will curb global stockpiles. The fall comes amid a spike in fertiliser and energy costs, led by the Middle East conflict. Now, these spikes are disturbing operations for farmers in Asia. Moreover, some farmers are considering skipping plantings of the new crop, which is known for being a fertiliser-intensive grain. Furthermore, India, the world’s top grower, could be affected by a lower-than-average monsoon. The annual rains, which start around June, are expected to be curbed by the looming El Niño weather pattern. The country’s exports are projected to remain strong, whereas shipments from the US will contract

Cuba And Vietnam Roll Out Joint Rice Cultivation Project

As per reports by TV BRICS, Cuba and Vietnam have rolled out a new agricultural cooperation project. It focuses on rice cultivation in the eastern Cuban province of Granma. Notably, the project forms part of broader efforts to boost domestic food production and expand agricultural development in the island. Currently, the initiative covers nearly 160 hectares in the Jose Marti community. There are plans for the gradual expansion of cultivation areas to 25,000 hectares. Under the agreement, the project operates through foreign investment mechanisms by using land provided by the Cuban state under a 25-year usufruct arrangement. The production will primarily support domestic consumption and regional self-sufficiency goals during the initial stage. Remarkably, this marks the second agricultural cooperation initiative of its kind between Cuba and Vietnam. A previous pilot project rolled out in late 2024 in Pinar del Rio, which involved Vietnamese specialists and technology working alongside local labour to develop rice cultivation on state-owned land. According to project data, nearly 1,100 hectares had been harvested by early January, producing nearly 5,900 tonnes of wet rice. Interestingly, both programmes form part of Cuba’s strategy to boost food security. The latest project in Granma has already begun its first mechanised harvest, which Cuban authorities described as an important step for the region’s agricultural development.