FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 01/00 - LAOS (1 February)
Seasonably dry conditions in January continued to assist farmers with second season rice preparations, which is planted in Jan/Feb for harvest in May/June. The second rice crop is largely irrigated and contributes around 15 percent of average annual paddy production of around 1.7 million tonnes. In mid-January there was an earthquake, measuring 5.9 on the Richter in the north, though no damage to agriculture nor property has so far been reported.
For vulnerable sectors of the population, project food aid continues to be needed to support well-targeted project interventions in areas affected by reduced rice production in 1998/99. Based on earlier FAO/WFP estimates 251 000 people needed around 12 000 tonnes of assistance last year for an average duration of 4 months. Some 8 000 tonnes have been pledged and delivered during the past marketing year.
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