Environmental Change Affecting the Rice Production in Thailand and in Monsoon Asia

Abstract

Environmental change, particularly climatic change during the recent years, and its impact on rice production in Thailand and in Monsoon Asia were dealt with. First, it was pointed out that Thailand is situated roughly on the northeastern border of the area dominated by the SW monsoon in South Asia in the northern summer. On the other hand, it is located on the southwestern border of the prevailing NE monsoon in Southeast Asia in the northern winter. So Thailand is located in the most sensitive region for year-to-year change of the monsoons. Secondly, differences of precipitation and rice production between the El Nino years and the La Nina years in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Thailand were dealt with. It is shown that a decrease in the El Nino years and, in contrast, an increase in the La Nina years is obvious. This is clearer in South Asia than in Southeast Asia, where there are some exceptional cases. Thirdly, examples in Northeast Thailand were presented. It is interesting to note that the differences of precipitation between 1992 (dry year) and 1994 (wet year) were negative, but the rice yield in the dry season was positive. This was considered to be a result of rapid technological development in the provinces of Northeast Thailand in the early 1990s, excepting the provinces of the surrounding mountainous or border region. Lastly, the concluding remarks took into consideration environmental problems on the global and Monsoon Asian scale as well as those in Thailand on a regional scale.