South Korea's rice harvest is expected to be of an average level or higher this year despite bad weather conditions, including a springtime drought. 

According to the Rural Development Administration's survey released Thursday on this year's rice yield, the average number of grains of rice per one square meter of land nationwide stood at 33-thousand-810.

This is more than 600 fewer than last year's unusual bumper crop during the same period but it's slightly more than the past average.

An official at the administration attributed this year's crop level to the lack of natural disasters such as typhoons in early autumn and large amount of sunshine.

However, total rice production is likely to sharply decrease partly due to the government policy of encouraging rice farmers to convert to other crops.

The total rice cultivation area measured about 755-thousand hectares this year, down more than three percent from last year.