Home

Cost of Rice Latest Indicator of Food Risk

Posted on March 4, 2008 by Amy VanderZanden
Topics: Energy and Oil
Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps
Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps

Rising rice prices have created new problems for those countries, mostly in Asia, which depend on a large, inexpensive supply of the food, according to the Financial Times. This week, prices hit a 20-year high, "prompting importing countries to seek assurances on supplies."

Analysts have attributed the surge in rice prices to bad weather that has hit supply; urbanisation that has cut the acreage given over to cultivating the grain; and strong demand on the back of rapid income growth in China, India and other Asian countries...Asia has not known famines since the 1970s, and recent price rises for rice and other basic foodstuffs have sparked unrest.

Bookmark/Search this post with:
Keywords: rice, global food crisis, Asia

Comments

Mon, 04/28/2008 - 13:57 — Cami Martin

"Rice Passes" in the Philippines

In an attempt to ease the effects of the global food crisis the Filipino government is distributing "rice passes" to the poorest families in the country. In addition, a plan is underway to distribute cash subsidies.

Post new comment

Your email address is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img> <blockquote>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options


Breaking News
Subscribe

Rising energy costs eroding Asia's competitive edge

International Herald Tribune - Fri, 07/04/2008 - 04:10
Much of Asia's export-based economic miracle has been predicated on cheap transportation and energy, but with oil at $140 a barrel the sums increasingly don't add up.

Weather plays larger role in global fuel prices

Yale Global Online - Wed, 07/02/2008 - 21:00
As the world grows more reliant on crops like corn and palm oil for its fuel supply, it is becoming vulnerable to the many hazards that can damage agriculture, ranging from droughts to plagues to storms.

Agriculture needs green growth

All Africa - Thu, 07/03/2008 - 03:54
Caution needs to be exercised in developing African food production to avoid long-term social and environmental harm.

Bush asks for help, abroad and at home, in sending aid to Africa

New York Times - Wed, 07/02/2008 - 22:15
President Bush called for Congress to renew his global AIDS initiative and urged other nations to live up to their promises to fight poverty and disease on the continent.

Egypt fights to stem rapid population growth

International Herald Tribune - Fri, 07/04/2008 - 10:28
Since President Hosni Mubarak took office in 1981, the population has nearly doubled to 82 million people.
See all Breaking News >

Recent comments

An initiative of Mercy Corps
“You must be the change
you wish to see in the world”
— Mahatma Gandhi
Learn more about Mercy Corps >

Efficiency

Over the last five years, more than 89% of Mercy Corps' resources have been allocated directly to programs

Excellence

Mercy Corps is a Charity Navigator 4-star charity.

Click to view our rating from America's premier charity evaluator.

High Value

Every dollar you donate to Mercy Corps helps us secure $20.89 in donated food and other critical supplies.

Mercy Corps — Dept. W — 3015 SW First Ave — Portland, OR 97201
 All original content Copyright © 2008 Mercy Corps. Quoted and linked content is property of the creator(s). Mercy Corps will not sell, rent or trade your personal information.