El Niño raises drought fears

[geovalin]

Chan Muyhong

Cambodia is looking at a delayed onset of the rainy season, with experts and government officials having raised concerns of a prolonged dry season affecting agricultural production, as the Pacific weather pattern El Niño threatens to bring drought-like conditions.

Ngin Chhay, director of the Rice Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, said that farmers across the country were concerned about the lack of water and the delay in planting crops this season, which traditionally runs from May to November.

“In some provinces, farmers were waiting for rainfall. There was no rain until last week when the rain began, but in some areas only,” Chhay said.

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/el-nino-raises-drought-fears

[SantiSuk]

This time of year our monsoon rain comes over Cambodia and into Lower Isaan (Surin/Sisaket/Ubon). Just the odd storm so far here in southern Sisaket - running at least 3 weeks behind normal. Disaster looming here too. The farmers seem to be phlegmatic - it could all change within days seems to be the refrain.

[khwaibah]

This time of year our monsoon rain comes over Cambodia and into Lower Isaan (Surin/Sisaket/Ubon). Just the odd storm so far here in southern Sisaket - running at least 3 weeks behind normal. Disaster looming here too. The farmers seem to be phlegmatic - it could all change within days seems to be the refrain.

Agree. We have had some much needed rain this past week but are very much behind. The last two years the monsoon rains did not kick in until July.