JAKARTA: Indonesia’s rice output in January to August this year is estimated at 21.39 million metric tons, dropping 9.52% compared to the same period last year, the country’s statistics agency said on Tuesday.

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The country’s rice-planted area is forecast to decline by 7.52% from a year ago to 7.24 million hectares, M. Habibullah, a statistics agency official said in a government meeting broadcast online.

The El Nino weather phenomenon has hit Indonesia since last year, causing a decline in rice output.