Drought fears haunt SE Asia

Drought fears haunt SE Asia

SINGAPORE (Reuters): Southeast Asian farmers are plagued by
fears of continuing drought despite signs that the El Nino
weather event, billed by some as the worst this century, may be
drawing to a close, weather experts said yesterday.

Dry conditions will continue to stress regional coffee, cocoa,
sugar, rubber and oil palm plantations, as well as rice and corn
crops in coming weeks, and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia may
see little rain before the next monsoon in October, they said.

Thailand and the Philippines may get earlier rainfall when
monsoons start in June.

The drought has not only parched crops, but has helped forest
fires flare up again on Borneo, threatening a repeat of last
year's smog that blanketed Southeast Asia.