rice

Cost of Rice Latest Indicator of Food Risk

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.

From the Archives

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Previously filed under: South America, Agriculture
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World Rice Research Centers Unite for Africa

Previously filed under: Africa, Agriculture
Collaboration between international agriculture research institutes will help Africa keep up with the internal demand for rice.

From the Archives

Rice Farming in Namibia Gathers Steam

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According to Dr. Luke Kanyomeka, Head of Crop Science at the University of Namibia, recent agricultural experimentation may soon result in small-scale local rice production.

Breaking News

Surplus Rice in Japan 'Could End Rice Crisis'

OneWorld Daily Headlines - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 07:44
Selling excess rice held in Japan and imported from the United States would incite a rapid drop in the global price of rice but requires immediate action from Tokyo and Washington, write former editor of The Rice Trader, Tom Slayton, and policy analyst, Peter Timmer.

Half in Ten

OneWorld Daily Headlines - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 07:44
Four prominent American social justice groups are launching a campaign to halve poverty in the United States in 10 years.

Myanmar Farmers May Miss Harvest

New York Times - Thu, 05/15/2008 - 21:34
The timing of Cyclone Nargis, which disrupted farmers as they were preparing to plant, could not have been worse.

In Departure, China Invites Outside Help

New York Times - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 02:59
China sought experts and equipment from Japan and Taiwan as President Hu Jintao visited the area affected by the earthquake.

The Caucus: Edwards to Endorse Obama

New York Times - Wed, 05/14/2008 - 15:38
The Obama campaign is hoping that John Edwards’s endorsement will be taken as the start of a coalescence around Mr. Obama as the nominee.

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