Drought Seen Hurting Thai Farm Output as El Nino Risk Climbs

Rice, sugar and rubber output in Thailand is at risk because of prolonged drought, according to the government forecaster, which warned that the dry conditions may be aggravated by the development of an El Nino this year.

The dry weather has already spread to 38 of 77 provinces since September, Anan Lila, secretary-general of the Office of Agricultural Economics, said in an interview today. The minor rice crop that’s now being harvested may drop 12 percent to 10.74 million metric tons, said Anan.