In Laos, adverse weather conditions have caused crop damage in major rice producing areas, exacerbating localised food supply problems in the country. On 27 May 1998, the government appealed to the international community for food aid amounting to 35 000 tonnes of rice. Harvesting of the irrigated secondary paddy crop is underway. The total rice production in 1997 is estimated at 1.6 million tonnes, about 13 percent above average.