Burma: Rice Threatened By Slow Cyclone Recovery
17 June 2008 Burma’s 2008/09 rice crop is in danger as the country’s main rice growing area is still recovering from Tropical Cyclone Nargis, which struck the Ayeyarwady delta on May 2, damaging fields, infrastructure, livestock, and stored food grains.
A 12-foot tidal wave from the cyclone reached 25 to 30 miles inland along the storm’s path, and a nearly 2,000 square mile area of farmland was inundated with salt water and heavy rainfall, reports the US Dept. of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS). The affected region accounts for about 60% of the nation’s rice production. The outlook for the 2008/09 rice crop is now uncertain, as the planting window will close in late July. Little to no progress has been made to restore or rehabilitate damaged lands and infrastructure, and farmers are yet to be supplied with sufficient food, seed, tools, livestock, tillers, and fuel.
A month after the cyclone hit, approximately 1.40 million hectares (Ha) or 80% of the original affected area is still flooded. Approximately 870,000 Ha has shown no improvement. USDA-FAS expects that approximately 700,000 Ha will go unsown in the main monsoon season, reducing overall rice area in 2008/09.
USDA-FAS estimates 2008/09 Burma rice production at 9.4 million tons (milled), down 600,000 tons from last month and 12% from last year. The harvested area is estimated at 6.4 million Ha, down 10% from last year. In addition, approximately 1 million tons of rice from the 2007/08 harvest was lost or destroyed by the storm surge and flooding.
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