Indonesia, Malaysia And Philippine Crops In Good Shape
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, December 15 (World Weather Inc.) – Frequent rain has occurred across Indonesia and Malaysia in recent weeks. The ground has adequate or abundant soil moisture favoring nearly all crops in the region. Rain will continue to be scattered across both countries on a near daily 
basis during the next two weeks. Crops will continue to develop under near ideal conditions. Outside of pockets in western Luzon Island, the Philippines are also favorably moist. The frequent precipitation pattern will continue during the next two weeks as well.
Precipitation across Indonesia and Malaysia was near to above average in most locations since the beginning of November. Portions of central Sumatra were drier than normal during the past two weeks, though soil moisture remains favorable in much of the region despite the lack of rain. Soil moisture elsewhere is adequate or abundant in the main production areas.
Main season rice and second season corn is normally planted and establishing this time of year. The frequent rainfall promoted aggressive establishment and growth conditions in recent weeks. Rain has also been beneficial for favorable palm oil, coffee, cocoa, tea, rubber, sugarcane, coconut and a host of other crops.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue across Indonesia and Malaysia through the end of next week. Moisture totals ending next Thursday morning will range from 1.00 to 6.00 inches with drier pockets in central Sumatra and southern Kalimantan. Rice, corn, oil palm and many other crop conditions will remain generally favorable in much of the region. Central Sumatra may need a boost in rain at the end of the month 
or in early January to keep the ground from becoming too dry for the best crop conditions, but worrisome dryness is certainly not expected anytime soon.
Most crop conditions across the Philippines are also favorable. Frequent rain has occurred in recent weeks leaving soil moisture at adequate or abundant levels. However, there are portions of western Luzon Island that are experiencing a more limited topsoil moisture situation. The region does not need much rain to lift moisture to more adequate levels for crop growth and some of that needed rain is likely to evolve soon.
An erratic rain pattern will occur on a near-daily basis in the Philippines through next Thursday. Moisture totals will range from 1.50 to 6.00 inches by Dec. 23 with locally greater amounts in eastern Luzon Island and portions of the Visayan Islands. A tropical disturbance will potentially track near or over the country toward the end of next week that could promote periods of torrential rain. However, the disturbance is too far out in the forecast to have much confidence. A close monitoring of the situation is warranted.
A lack of rain in recent weeks promoted aggressive drying in Thailand. The environment was favorable for rice and other crop harvesting. The 
harvest will continue to progress with few disruptions during the next seven days. Laos and much of Cambodia will also only see brief periods of mostly light rain during the coming week.
In the meantime, portions of central Vietnam will see several waves of rain in the coming week maintaining an excessively wet environment. . Rain totals through next Thursday morning will range from 5.00 to 12.00 inches with locally greater amounts possible. Flooding and fieldwork delays are expected. Flooding has already been a frequent occurrence in central Vietnam recently and it looks like the region will be subjected to more of the same.
Flooding was also quite serious earlier this month in the southern Thailand’s portion of the Malay Peninsula where damage to rice and other crops occurred. Some of the flooding there was the worst seen in 15 years.
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