Thailand, the world's second largest exporter of rice, is encouraging its farmers to plant less of the crop in a bid to save water — a move that could roil rice markets further following India's export ban. In an effort to conserve water for consumption, the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) has called on the country's farmers to turn to "planting crops that use less water [which] can be harvested quickly." Kidtimonton said the country's water management needs to "focus on water for consumption," as well as "water for cultivation mainly for perennial crops." Perennial crops are crops that grow back after harvest and need not be replanted every year, unlike annual crops. Rice is categorized as an annual crop.

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Persons: Surasri Kidtimonton, Kidtimonton Organizations: National Water Resources, National Water Administration Locations: Thailand