March is a critical month for moisture stress for the second season rice crop to be harvested in April/May.
In 1996, low and irregular rainfall in June/July delayed transplanting of paddy affecting crop growth, whilst typhoons caused widespread flooding in major rice producing areas in the lowlands of Central and Southern Region. Six provinces were significantly affected, accounting for nearly 94 percent of losses in rice. Amongst these, the provinces of Khammouane, Savannakhet and Champasack were the most affected and now face large shortages. These are important agricultural provinces, with Khammouane being self-sufficient and Savannakhet and Champasack surplus-producing in normal years, without floods
An FAO/WFP Assessment Mission last year, estimated that as a result of losses on some 76 000 hectares of paddy, the output of milled rice in 1996/97 will amount to only 836 000 tons. Moreover, as the country has no carryover stocks only this amount of grain will be available for utilization in the 1996/97 marketing year. Against this the country requires some 864 000 tons for food alone and approximately 1.02 million tons for total utilization, leaving an overall import requirement of over 179 000 tons. Assuming that 25 000 tons would come in the form of commercial imports, similar to last year, the overall deficit amounts to 154 000 tons, with which the country needs assistance. The FAO/WFP mission, made a recommendation that 43 000 tons of this be provided as emergency assistance for 420 000 people who have been affected by floods and have no food reserves on which to rely and the remaining 111 000 tons as programme and project food aid.
Joint FAO/WFP approval is expected soon for an emergency operation to provide 30 240 tons of rice to cover the needs of 420 000 of the most vulnerable people affected by the floods for a period of six months.