The emergency resulted in decreased shipments from the delta and deficit requirements from the northern twothirds of the country. More American and some Thai rice was imported for 1964The availability of rice decreased subsequently because of the decline in the surplus shipped out of the delta to Saigon. the flood of 1966. and the Increased deficit in the Eastern and Central Provinces. That deficit was caused by increased military activity and more refugees to feed. While we were told that the deficits will begin to level off in the near future. the effect of the recent Tet offensive has undoubtedly made those predictions overoptimistic. The estimates for domestic production. importation. and consumption for the ensuing year (196768) were represented to me as follows: Milled rice Metric tons Estimate of production. primarily from the delta ---------------- 2.200.000 Approximate importation. with 600.000 to 700.000 metric tons to come from the United States ----------------------- 775.000 Total -------------------2.975.000 Less additions to stored stock ----- 50.000 Estimated to be consumed-- 2.925.000 The briefing material supplied to us Indicated that AID officials do not have a good grip on the essential facts and figures of rice production. while one reliable AID source indicated that the consumption figures were probably the weakest of all.
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refugees