July 7, 2010
South Korea considers surplus rice for animal feed
In order to stabilise domestic rice prices, South Korea may turn to some of the nation's surplus rice to manufacture animal feed, according to the farm ministry.
About 360,000 metric tonnes of rice produced in 2005 may be turned into feed, the ministry said.
South Korea, which is 99% self-sufficient in rice, imports almost all its needs for corn and wheat, used to make animal feed. Using the rice for feed may reduce demand for overseas shipments of the two grains.
The North Asian nation currently has 1.4 million tonnes of rice in reserves, almost twice the 720,000 tonnes considered adequate for emergencies.