Flooding hit East Jakarta, Indonesia. Heavy rainfall from 21 March 2026 triggered flooding and caused the Cipinang, Cilangkap, and Sunter rivers in East Jakarta, Indonesia to overflow. A total of 46 neighborhood units were inundated, with 16 units in Ciracas Subdistrict being the worst affected as of 22 March. Meanwhile, 696 people from 201 families evacuated to seven locations. Local authorities were deployed to drain floodwaters and expedite recovery efforts.

Source: Tempo. (2026, Mar 22).  Floods Inundate 46 Neighborhoods in East Jakarta,696 Evacuated.

Hailstorm heavily battered Lao PDR. On the evening of 22 March 2026, a hailstorm struck Sikhottabong District in Vientiane, Lao PDR. More than 2,000 households were affected across five villages, with Viengkham and Chansavang being the worst affected, each reporting damage to over 1,000 households. Four schools, one temple, and a village office were also damaged. Authorities delivered emergency relief assistance and were preparing for longer-term recovery efforts.

Source: Lao News Agency. (2026, Mar 23). Labour Minister Delivers Emergency Aid to Hailstorm Victims in Vientiane.

Myanmar Rice Federation urges not to hoard as fuel and fertiliser costs rise. The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) has urged industry stakeholders not to hoard fuel and fertilisers beyond their actual needs amid rising global oil prices and market instability. Fuel shortages are affecting all processes in the rice sector, including harvesting, milling, and transportation. The MRF encourages stakeholders to help farmers access diesel, reduce fuel use, and adopt alternatives like solar energy, especially in rice mills. Meanwhile, fertiliser prices are also increasing. The MRF advises farmers to shift toward organic and bio-fertilizers to reduce costs and maintain production efficiency.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar. (2026, March 21). MRF urges against fuel, fertilizer stockpiling in rice industry.

Fuel crisis impacts the rice sector. Fuel shortages in Thailand are disrupting both agriculture and transportation, especially during the rice harvest season in late March. Farmers are unable to harvest or dry rice due to diesel shortages, leaving machinery idle and delaying seed processing. Facilities that rely on fuel for drying operations have been forced to stop, even as harvested crops pile up. The crisis is also affecting logistics. In Nakhon Ratchasima province, transport operators report difficulty finding fuel, with drivers needing to visit multiple stations due to limited or inconsistent supply. Although the government has introduced emergency measures to stabilise fuel distribution and prevent hoarding. However, farmers and transport groups warn that without faster, targeted support, the shortages could disrupt supply chains and impact the wider economy.

Source: Bangkok Post. (2026, March 22). Freight and farms suffer fuel blows

South Korea’s rice prices have risen for seven consecutive months to about 63,000 KRW. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), as of the 18^th March, rice prices in South Korea have risen sharply, with a 20-kilogramme bag of rice reaching 62,951 KRW (42.09 USD), an increase of 13.7 percent from 2025 and 16.5 percent from the average, while 10-kilogramme bag of rice prices have surged over 23.27 percent from 2025 and 25.92 percent from the average. The Production prices also reached 57,716 KRW (38.59 USD) per 20 kilogrammes, an increase of 19.7 percent from 2025 and 19.4 percent from the average prices. According to the February consumer price index, rice prices surged 17.7 percent compared to 2025, nearly nine times the overall inflation rate (2.0 percent). Moreover, the rise in rice prices also impacts food costs and puts pressure on households despite government efforts to stabilise prices. A fundamental issue cited is the ministry’s miscalculation of demand. Policies to reduce rice cultivation areas have also exacerbated supply shortages. The ministry reduced rice paddies by 80,000 hectares last year and plans to cut an additional 90,000 hectares this year.

*1 USD = 1,495.57 KRW

Source: The Chosun Daily. (2026, March 19). Rice Prices Surge to 63,000 Won, Seven Months.