The rains, attributed to the "La Nina" phenomenon, caused extensive damage in Asia, particularly Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, North and South Korea and Nepal, FAO said in its latest report on "Food Outlook".

In India, besides the damage to crops, rains and swollen rivers have left over 1,800 people homeless, it said.

The "La Nina" is a weather phenomenon that brings heavy rains following the "El Nino" caused by a rise in temperature in the Pacific Ocean. "El Nino" phenomenon had caused drought and forest fires in the Asian region, especially in Indonesia and Philippines.FAO said heavy rains in Bangladesh had left 45 of the country's 64 districts flooded and emergency assistance was urgently required.