In southern Southeast Asia, dry-season rice is mostly in the harvesting stage, and yields are expected to be generally favourable due to adequate sunlight levels. However, potential pest damage remains a concern in Brunei. In Malaysia, planting of wet-season rice is now underway with good weather conditions. In northern Southeast Asia, planting of wet-season rice is nearing completion, and the total planted area is expected to decrease slightly as a result of a delayed rainfall start at the beginning of the season that contributed to a shortage of agricultural water supply in some areas. Crops are mostly in the tillering to harvesting stage, and growing conditions are favourable except in the Philippines where heavy and continuous rains resulted in damage to the agricultural sector. While flooding has been reported in other countries, it has not caused significant damage to crops. Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, conditions are mixed with abnormally wet conditions impacting crops in North Pyongan district of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and in eastern Bangladesh.

In Indonesia, August marked the fifth month of dry-season rice planting with a total planted area of 4.1 million hectares, which is 5.9 percent higher than the last dry-season. Intensive rainfall is supporting growing conditions, particularly in the southern region, though rainfall amounts are now decreasing in some areas. August also marked the second month of dry-season rice harvesting with a total harvested area of 1.7 million hectares, which is 0.3 percent higher than last year, and yield is expected to be favourable. In Malaysia, planting of dry-season rice is now complete, and the final planted area reached 97 percent of the cultivation plan. Growing conditions are favourable due to adequate sunlight and water supply. Harvesting activities are now underway, and 6 percent of the planted area has been harvested. Additionally, planting of wet-season rice began in August and has reached 3 percent of the cultivation plan.  In Brunei, about 13 percent of the planted area of dry-season rice has been harvested, and the current yield is slightly lower than the initial target of 2 to 3 metric tonnes per hectare. Most growing areas are in the reproductive to ripening stages, and the incidents of brown plant hopper and stem borer pests remains high. Farmers have mostly been successful in preventing heavy pest damage so far, but concern remains as there are still two more months of harvesting activities remaining.

In the Philippines, insufficient rainfall and the late release of irrigation water caused delayed plantings of wet-season rice in most parts of the country. Crops planted in April and May are now in the maturing to harvesting stage, and there is concern due to the impacts of heavy rains and storms this season. Increased precipitation from mid-May generally benefitted crop development, except in some central and southern provinces where low rains through early July negatively impacted the panicle formation and flowering stages. Furthermore, the passage of Typhoon Carina in late July enhanced the southwest monsoon and brought additional heavy and continuous rains that affected around 51.2 thousand hectares of paddy fields with an estimated volume loss of 16.7 thousand metric tons. Harvesting amounts are expected to be lower relative to the same period last year. In Thailand, planted area of wet-season rice has reached 88 percent of the expected planted area of 9.94 million hectares. Soil moisture deficits at the beginning of the season resulted in a short planting delay, which was followed by generally average to above-average rainfall since June that benefitted planting and crop development despite pockets of low rainfall through mid-July in some central provinces. Crops are now in the tillering stage under favourable conditions. Recent consistent rainfall and tropical storms brought heavy to extremely heavy precipitation amounts and resultant flooding in the north and northeast, and damage assessments are underway. However, growing conditions are mostly favourable as the rainfall has been generally beneficial, and sunlight levels are adequate. Both yield and total production amounts are expected to increase. In northern Viet Nam, wet-season (summer-autumn) rice is in the young panicle forming stage, while the main wet-season (seasonal) rice is in the seeding stage. Overall growing conditions are favourable due to good weather and adequate irrigation water supply. In the south, wet-season (summer-autumn) rice is in the harvesting stage with a harvested area of 0.55 million hectares out of 1.73 million hectares planted. Yield is forecast to be slightly higher than last year due to warm weather outcomes and better irrigation preparation. Additionally, the other wet-season (autumn-winter and seasonal) rice is in the growing stage under favourable conditions. According to USDA estimates, overall 2023/24 total rice production is estimated to be 26.6 million metric tons, representing a 2 percent decrease from the previous year, and yield is estimated to be 6.09 tons per hectare, representing a slight decrease from the previous year. The minor reductions are attributed to below-average rainfall distribution for the late spring and autumn planting cycles, particularly in the Mekong River Delta. In lowland areas of Laos, wet-season rice is in the young panicle-forming stage, and planting work has been completed in all regions. Overall conditions are favourable due to good weather and adequate irrigation water supply in August. In late July, a low-pressure system and strong southwest winds resulted in heavy rainfall and resultant flooding and landslides across northern and central regions, but no significant damage was reported. In upland areas, wet-season rice is also in the young panicle-forming stage under good growing conditions. In Myanmar, August is the peak month for wet-season rice planting. Planting progress is slower than the last wet-season, with 4.13 million hectares accounting for 68.1 percent of the national planting plan completed.  Most planted crops are now in the tillering to young panicle forming stages under favourable growing conditions. However, monsoon flooding impacted several regions, particularly in the lower and river basin areas. A reported 45 thousand hectares of planted crops have been affected, and over 11 thousand hectares have been damaged. Replanting operations are underway for damaged fields. In Cambodia, planted area of wet-season rice reached about 2.66 million hectares and 100 percent of the national planned area. Early planted rice is now in the grain filling to harvesting stage, and 234 thousand hectares have been harvested with an average yield of 3.86 tonnes per hectare. While overall conditions are favourable, high rainfall amounts in August impacted northwest and lowland regions, affecting 0.83 percent of the cultivated area and damaging 0.33 percent. 

In Sri Lanka, harvesting of Yala season rice and second season maize is just beginning, and concern remains in the east due to ongoing seasonal dry conditions. In Nepal, maize harvesting is now underway while the country’s staple rice crop is now in the vegetative to reproductive stage. Limited precipitation from April through mid-June disrupted planting activities. However, some farmers pumped irrigation water to counteract the dry conditions, with the government subsidizing much of the electricity costs, and good domestic rice prices resulted in above-average sowing levels. A shift to near to above-average rainfall from mid-June benefitted soil moisture conditions. However, in the main producing Terai plains located along the south of the country, flooding and landslides in mid-July resulted in localized crop losses and damage to agricultural infrastructure. Vegetation conditions are mostly favourable, but production is expected to be slightly below-average due to dry conditions at the start of the season. Forecast above-average rains through October would benefit late rice planting and development but could potentially disrupt maturation and harvesting of maize. In Bangladesh, harvesting of Aus season rice (10 percent of annual rice production) finalized in August under favourable conditions. Planting of Aman season rice (35 percent of annual rice production) and main season sorghum continues for harvest from November with concern in the east. Recent unusually heavy monsoon rainfall in late August triggered high tides and severe flooding, particularly in Noakhali, Cumilla, Laxipur, Feni, Chattogram, and Moulvibazar districts located along the east of the country. Major rivers have risen significantly, including Gomti, Muhuri, and Halda located in the southeast, which is exacerbating the flooding. An estimated 291,033 hectares of both Aman and Aus paddy have been damaged, raising concern about potential yield declines. According to government estimates, rice production may decrease by up to 850 thousand tonnes as a result of the flood damage. Elsewhere in the country, planting conditions remain favourable. In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, maize harvesting is now underway while rice crops continue to develop for harvest from September. A timely start to seasonal rains in mid-April was followed by average to above-average rains in May to June with good distribution, which has generally supported crop establishment and development. However, torrential rains in July impacted one of the main producing Cereal Bowl provinces of North Pyongan located in the northwest where the flooded cropland area was estimated to cover 2,600 hectares as of early August. Production is expected to be below-normal in this area due to a combination of flood damage and limited agricultural inputs. Additionally, in other main producing provinces of South Hwanghae, North Hwanghae, and South Pyongan located along the central-west and southwest of the country, the flooding likely affected paddy fields in localized low-lying areas. Elsewhere, the rains were likely beneficial for crop development, with average to above-average biomass in areas not affected by the flooding. Above-average rains are forecast to continue through October, which could exacerbate waterlogging and flooding impacts. Furthermore, forecast high temperatures increase the risk of crop pest and disease occurrence.