Floods could curb rice exports, Vietnam says<\/p>\n
HANOI (Reuter): Vietnam, the world's third largest rice
\nexporter, said on Wednesday that possible food shortages caused
\nby floods in the Mekong Delta could force it to cut or delay
\nexports of the staple.<\/p>\n
The death toll from flooding in the delta in the far south,
\nthe country's main rice-growing area, rose to 180 with the
\nconfirmed destruction of crops and property surging to 800
\nbillion dong (US$73 million), government officials said.<\/p>\n
The floods -- the result of heavy rains in catchment areas
\nfurther north in China, Thailand, Laos or Cambodia -- have
\ndestroyed at least 200,000 tons of rice in the delta.<\/p>\n
Australia became the first country to respond to a Vietnamese
\nRed Cross appeal last week for international help, pledging
\nA$100,000 ($75,000) to help flood and typhoon victims.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet earmarked 15 billion dong ($1.4
\nmillion) in extra relief aid for six flood-hit Mekong Delta
\nprovinces, official newspapers reported.<\/p>\n
He told the commerce and agriculture ministries to cut or
\ndelay rice exports if necessary if flood damage caused shortages,
\nthe ruling Communist Party daily Nhan Dan said.<\/p>\n
\"In a situation in which the floods may last longer, the
\nMinistry of Commerce must coordinate with the Ministry of
\nAgriculture and Food...to guarantee the balance of supply and
\ndemand, in order to closely adjust rice exports,\" it said quoted
\na decision by Kiet.<\/p>\n
\"In case of necessity, it must cut back or delay rice export
\ncontracts.\"<\/p>\n
Heavy rains<\/p>\n
Vietnam, the world's third largest rice exporter after the
\nUnited States and Thailand, has already suffered estimated losses
\nof 300,000 tons of rice in the northern Red River Delta rice-bowl
\nbecause of heavy rains in August.<\/p>\n
The government has not issued a comprehensive estimate of
\ndamage from bad weather to its planned 1994 rice harvest of 22.1
\nto 22.3 million tons, slightly up on last year.<\/p>\n
It has forecast exports of two million tons this year, up from
\n1.7 million tons in 1993. Rice is the country's main export,
\nalong with crude oil.<\/p>\n
The latest flooding death toll, up from 175 last weekend, took
\nthe number of deaths in bad weather disasters to more than 200
\nover the last two months.<\/p>\n
Typhoons last month killed 27 people in three central northern
\nprovinces, destroyed crops and washed away some 5,000 houses.<\/p>\n
The Red Cross last Friday appealed for a one million dollar
\nfund to help 150,000 \"most vulnerable\" people, including settlers
\nwho fled across the border into the Mekong Delta region last year
\nduring disturbances in Cambodia.<\/p>\n
Announcing Australia's contribution, its embassy here said the
\nmoney would be used to buy emergency relief supplies including
\nmosquito nets, first aid kits, rice and blankets.<\/p>\n
According to Nhan Dan, Kiet said local authorities had to
\nensure rice acreage and yield for the coming 1994-95 winter-
\nspring crop. He told the agriculture ministry to support
\nprovinces with seeds and fertilizers.<\/p>",
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