Draught in the Isan region of Thailand (17 images)

Thailand, and Isan in particular, is in the midst of a drought unlike any ever experienced in this country, the world's leading rice exporter. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is warning consumers that the rice harvest in Thailand will be cut by up to 16% this year because of the drought. Across the Kingdom, the Thai meteorological agency is predicting drier than normal conditions through the year. Fifty three of Thailand's 76 provinces have been declared drought...
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Thailand, and Isan in particular, is in the midst of a drought unlike any ever experienced in this country, the world's leading rice exporter. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is warning consumers that the rice harvest in Thailand will be cut by up to 16% this year because of the drought. Across the Kingdom, the Thai meteorological agency is predicting drier than normal conditions through the year. Fifty three of Thailand's 76 provinces have been declared drought disaster areas and farmers have been urged to forego their rice and plant less water dependent crops, like potatoes.

Adding to the problem is the Mekong River, which is at its lowest point in memory. The Mekong is one of the world's great rivers. Some 250,000,000 people depend on it for everything from water for farming and consumption to transportation for barges and boats to protein in the form of the fish pulled from the river.

This year the Mekong is a shadow of its former self. The river, which at the height of the wet season, is more than a mile wide in Nakhon Phanom and hundreds of feet deep, is so shallow you can walk across it in parts.

There are more photos in my archive. Do a search on Climate Change. This work is also available with an extended story from ZUMA Press.
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