Abstract: "This report describes the food resources of Mainland Southeast Asia in terms of their adequacy, geographical distribution, and potential military significance. This study reveals that food resources in this are reasonably satisfactory in comparison to other parts of Asia. However, diets are monotonous and often deficient in the protective foods such as animal proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Because of primitive agricultural techniques, small landholdings, and lack of capital, food production per unit area and per individual is low in Southeast Asia. Despite this, several countries within the area produce more food than their people consume, and are exporters of food. Rice is by far the leading foodstuff produced. Fish constitutes the leading source of animal proteins and ranks second to rice in terms of importance as a food. The large cities and major ports are points of maximum food availability. The sawah (wet-rice) areas also have fairly abundant food, amounts available. Surplus food produced by Thailand, Burman, Cambodia, and South Vietnam contributes significantly to the importance of this region. However, because of problems of food acceptability, most foodstuff produced in Mainland Southeast Asia have very limited usefulness for personnel of Western nations."

From Forward: "This report, prepared under project PROVOST, summarizes from available data the nature and extent of food resources, as well as dietary habits, food taboos, and nutritional status of people indigenous to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaya, Thailand, and Burma. Its purpose to help answer such questions as: How much food is available in Mainland Southeast Asia? In what sections is the food produced? What is the typical diet of the indigenous people? Are starvation and malnutrition widespread? Is sufficient surplus food produced to provide a source for military forces or mush all food for such forces be imported? The study should be useful in planning the food supply for indigenous and non-indigenous personnel during military occupation, civilian relocation and relief activities in Mainland Southeast Asia. The report also will also provide background and source material for instructional purposes."

Content: Technical Report 68-39-ES prepared by the Earth Sciences Laboratory, US Army Natick Laboratories under Project PROVOST. Contains a summary of the nature and extend of food resources, dietary habits, food taboos, and nutritional status of people indigenous to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaya, Singapore, Thailand and Burma. The report was compiled to help answer assessment questions and for planning the food supply for indigenous and non-indigenous personnel during military occupation, civilian relocation and relief activities on the mainland of Southeast Asia. Chapters: Introduction; The Food Resources of Southeast Asia; The Food Resources of North and South Vietnam; The Food Resources of Cambodia; The Food Resources of Laos; The Food Resources of Malaya and Singapore; The Food Resources of Thailand; The Food Resources of Burma; Conclusions; and Selected Bibliography. Chapter subheadings cover: Factors Affecting Food Availability; Military Significance of Food Geography; Agricultural Types; Availability of Food; Diseases Associated with Food Deficiencies; Potential Military Applications; Regional Differences; Procurement of Foot; Dietary Habits and Taboos; and Vulnerability of the Food Supply. Special topics: Sawah cultivation; intensive dry-field agriculture; Mekong Delta; Central Highlands; Coastal Lowlands; Red River Delta; Northern Highlands; Mekong-Bassac-Tonle Sap Confluence; Kompong Cham Redlands; Upland Region; Arakan Coast; Tenasserim Coast; Irrawady and Delta. Each country analysis provides detailed geographical breakdown. [Formerly AMC-NATICK-5].