FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 06/01 - THAILAND (28 May)
Low pressure swept across the northern part in early May causing heavy rains in the area and flash floods in Kalasin and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces. The worst cyclonic rain in its history hit Phrae Province in the northern region in early May. One of the major causes of the flooding was the mismanagement of the Province's forest resources. Survey results indicated that in addition to the loss of lives, much of the economic and agricultural infrastructure in the thirty- nine affected villages has been destroyed. Well over 7 000 rai (1 120 hectares) of various crops have been destroyed along with massive losses to livestock and fisheries. Phrea Province is expecting further heavy rainfall in the coming weeks.
Scattered thunderstorms and widespread heavy rainfalls across the country since late April signaled the progression of the monsoon season over the Andaman Sea to the Gulf of Thailand. Pre-monsoon rains which slowed harvest of the secondary rice crop, increased soil moisture for the planting of the main rice and maize crops. The aggregate rice output in 2001 is provisionally forecast at 24 million tonnes, similar to last year�s production. The 2001 rice exports are expected to remain at the same level as last year.