综合有关资料,预计今年稻米价格将保持在高价位,并且稳中有升,主要原因有以下几个方面:近年稻谷减产,供求趋于平衡2003年全国稻谷播种面积2708万公顷,比上年减少2.3%,稻谷总产1.64亿吨,比上年减产5.8%,比历史最高的1997年减少0.363亿吨,是近20年来的历史最低位。全国稻米供应由 Based on relevant information, it is estimated that the price of rice will remain at a high level this year and will increase steadily for the following reasons: In recent years, rice production has been reduced and supply and demand have become more balanced. In 2003, 27.08 million hectares of rice were planted in the country, a decrease from the previous year 2.3%. The paddy output totaled 164 million tons, down 5.8% from the previous year and down 36.3 million tons from the highest level in 1997, the lowest level in nearly 20 years. National rice supply by