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.