Drought menacing Thailand threatens global supply of sugar, rice

The dire outlook has prompted the Thai authorities to ask farmers to restrict rice planting to a single crop to conserve water. - ST FILE

BANGKOK (Bloomberg): Thailand is preparing contingency plans to deal with a potential drought that could last years and squeeze global supplies of sugar and rice.

Rainfall across the nation may be as much as 10% below average this monsoon season, and the onset of the El Niño weather pattern could lower precipitation even further over the next two years, according to government officials. Thailand is facing widespread drought conditions from early 2024, authorities have warned.