South Korea's rice production is expected to drop by some 200-thousand tons compared to last year.

The Korea Rural Economic Institute(KREI) on Friday forecast that the country’s farmers will produce a total of three-million-995-thousand tons of rice this year for an on-year drop of 202-thousand tons.

The institute cited unfavorable climate conditions, including daylight hours and average temperature, as major factors.

It said, however, 250-thousand tons of rice will be left unconsumed due to a gradual decline in demand.