The World Shortage of Rice Worsens
Following on from our recent blog on the world rice shortage, this weekend’s news from Vietnam confirms that the problem has got worse.
Vietnam is the usually 5th largest producer of rice, and the 3rd largest exporter, of rice in the world.
But this has changed with pests and disease ruining the rice crops both last year and this.
And there doesn’t seem to be an immediate resolution to the problem.
The rice-dependent part of the world is suffering from shortage and crop failures, and is anxiously waiting to see if the rice pests and diseases spread from Vietnam into other major rice producing countries (such China, Cambodia and Thailand).
You can read a good article on Vietnam’s current rice crop problems on Yahoo.
Because of the crop problems, Vietnam has placed restrictions on rice exports to try and ensure that the local population has access to the most important staple food.
Vietnam joins a list of countries (India, China and Egypt) that has banned, or heavily restricted, rice exports in order that their own people can eat. Despite the export restrictions, the price of rice is rising in those countries.
What this mean for you and me? Well, higher prices for rice are inevitable as countries that buy rice compete against each other for the shrinking. And there may be shortages in your local supermarket as well, although it is too early to see if this actually happens.
My local supermarket does not seem to have noticed any problems in the rice market because my favourite basmati rice was on sale this weekend with 30% off the regular price. But, as the world’s rice supplies do dry up, the prices WILL rise.
At the end of the day, you and I can afford to pay more for our rice. But the masses in South East Asia face the big problem of finding affordable food for themselves.
