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BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - The sugar crop in Thailand's northeast,
which accounts for more than one third of the national harvest, will
likely fall by as much as 10 percent in the coming growing season
due to infestations, growers said Thursday.
Growers estimate that cane output is likely to range between 18.7
million to 19.8 million tons, down from about 22 million tons this
year, Suphan Duangjumpa, president of the Northeastern Sugar Cane
Planters Federation said.
The reason is a widespread maggot infestation and the spread of
white leaf disease that has already reduced output by around 1.1
million tons. Growers say the government has agreed to help fight
the blight, but has yet to take action.
``The situation is rather serious. I worry that if rain continues
and results in high moisture in the air, maggot numbers will
increase and will then cause further crop damage,'' Suphan said.
Thailand is the world's third largest sugar exporter and Asia's
largest.
The Thai sugar cane crop in the 1999-2000 totaled 58.4 million
tons, including 22.97 million tons from the northeast. National
sugar production was 6.07 million tons.
Thailand's sugar crop year runs from October through September.
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