HANOI, 12 November 2010 (IRIN) - Millions more people across Asia will become food insecure due to increased water scarcities, reinforcing the need for greater efficiency in both irrigated and rain-fed rice production.

"The food security of hundreds of millions of people will be adversely affected," Robert Zeigler, director-general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) told IRIN on the sidelines of the 3rd International Rice Congress in Hanoi.

The five-day conference - which concluded on 12 November - brought together more than 1,200 farmers, scientists and

BANGKOK, 21 September 2010 (NNT) - The Cabinet has approved a budget of 1.43 billion THB to assist people affected by flood and drought crises.

Following the Cabinet meeting today, Deputy Government Spokesman Watchara Kannikar stated that the Cabinet had given a green light to the budget worth around 1.43 billion THB to aid people affected by natural disasters across the country during March-June this year.

The budget will be allocated to the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Cooperatives and

FAO lowers 2010 wheat harvest estimate but supplies adequate

Unfavourable weather conditions,particularly the severe drought in the Russian Federation have led FAO to revise downward its earlier projection for the global wheat crop this year from 676=01million to 651 million tonnes.However, this does not point to a repeat of the 2008 food price crisis as ample stocks are available with traditional wheat exporters, FAO added in a statement. Dry conditions in Russia along with expected lower wheat harvests in Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Canada have raised

Mekong region drought to affect 2010 Asian paddy harvest

Drought conditions in the greater Mekong region at the start of the planting season are expected to affect Asia's 2010 paddy harvest according to the latest FAO assessment which lowered earlier projections for the region by 6.1 million tonnes. Reductions are expected in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand as well as in the Philippines and China. However, Asia's 2010 paddy production, projected at 637.3 million tonnes (425.2 million tonnes on milled basis), would be some 23 million

BANGKOK, 22 July 2010 (NNT) - Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Teera Wongsamut indicated that the impact of the tropical storm Conson resulted in higher level of water in several dams. Rice farmers are however asked to start their in-season rice planting in early August.

Following the recent strike of tropical storm Conson in Nan province, the quantity of water flowing into the Sirikit Dam during 17-21 July 2010 totaled 173 million cubic meters, making up a reserve water in the dam at 469 million cubic meters. Inflow water into

BANGKOK, 11 July 2010 (NNT) -The Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (BRRAA) has requested five additional planes from the Royal Thai Air Force to enhance the agency's efficiency in rainmaking to solve drought crisis nationwide.

Director of the BRRAA Warawut Khantiyanant has disclosed that only 28 planes are currently in service for the task of rainmaking operation throughout the kingdom.

Mr Warawut said that the bureau would request that five more planes from the Royal Thai Air Force be assigned to the bureau, enabling it to boost its overall efficiency in handling

BANGKOK, 27 June 2010 (NNT) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has expressed strong concern over the current drought crisis which has delayed the sowing of in-season rice.

Speaking on his weekly talk show, "Confidence in Thailand with PM Abhisit", the Prime Minister stated that the cabinet has assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Co-Operatives and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to survey the number of agriculturalists who need to delay rice planting until July and have debts with the bank.

The Prime Minister elaborated that the

BANGKOK, 17 June 2010 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs, Major General Sanan Kajornprasart, has reported progress of the drought alleviation mission and solutions to debts of farmers to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Speaking after meeting with the prime minister, Major General Sanan Kajornprasart reported the success of the artificial rainmaking mission and improving the drought situation in the northern provinces upon his recent provincial visits to the areas.

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej recently

BANGKOK, 13 June 2010 (NNT) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will continue conducting the artificial rain operation in order to increase water levels in the main dams to handle the drought crisis in different parts of Thailand.

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Theera Wongsamut stated that the drought situation in several areas of the country had eased off but some remained critical due to unbalanced water levels in dams especially at the Sirikit dam and Bhumibol dam. The ministry would carry out the artificial rain operation in order to increase