Some 500 farmers staged a protest rally calling for food security and agrarian reform in Trinidad, Bohol province, the Philippines on April 10. (Photo/KMP-Bohol) By MONG PALATINO
Column: Peripheries
Published: April 16, 2008
MANILA, Philippines, Rice is the staple food in Southeast Asia and in many parts of the world. But it is not just a food that fulfills hunger. Rice has enriched the cultures of many Asian societies.
In Thailand, asking "Have you eaten rice today?' is a way of saying "How are you?" In Vietnam it is proper to say "please eat rice" before every meal, even if the meal does not include rice. In Brunei elders remind the children to finish their meal to the last grain of rice because if not, the rice would cry.
Asians have developed a rice-flavored ice-cream, rice wine, rice cake, and rice paper. There is an annual rice festival in the Philippines. A colonial ruler of Indochina once remarked: "The Vietnamese plant rice, the Cambodians watch it grow and the Lao listen to it grow."
Indeed, rice is a precious commodity in Southeast Asia. It is not surprising that many people in the region are worried over reports that rice is getting more expensive and supplies are dwindling. Southeast Asian governments are assuring their constituents that prices will stabilize soon and there will be no shortages in the local markets.
Thailand is the world's biggest rice exporter. Other Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar are rice exporters too. On the other hand, the Philippines is the world's top rice importer.
The rice price in Indonesia is slightly lower than in the world market. An Indonesian minister asserts that the government would no longer import rice this year because with last year's rice procurement drive, Indonesia now has more than 1 million tons in stock.
In Singapore and Malaysia, consumers are buying all the rice available in the market even if authorities are assuring the public that there are ample stocks of rice in the market.
Rice is a controlled item in Brunei and Malaysia. In Brunei the price of rice has not changed, since the government is subsidizing the price. Malaysia has been giving subsidies to rice farmers for many years now. There is a proposal in Malaysia to abolish subsidies for sugar and cooking oil in order to continue supporting subsidies for staple food items such as rice and flour.
Unfortunately, the Philippine government has been encouraged by the World Bank not to give subsidies to rice farmers since according to the financial lending institution it will be counter productive.
Since the start of the global rice crisis, Cambodia has suspended rice exports as speculators continue to gamble on the increasing demand for the food staple. The government is complaining that the opposition is taking advantage of the rice situation by conducting black propaganda against the ruling party.
Cambodian leader Hun Sen reminds his constituents that the price of rice should have soared in 2000-2001 when there was a major flood in Cambodia; but the price of rice during that time was stable. Hun Sen blames "dishonest people who are instigating rumors" about a rice shortage in the market.
The Philippine government is asking its people to reduce their consumption of rice. Instead of rice, the public is requested to eat more sweet potatoes. In Malaysia the government is asked to give more support to the poultry industry and fruit and vegetable farmers. Health experts explain that reducing consumption of rice is not bad at all since rice and other grains like wheat and corn are actually worse than sugar. One bowl of cooked rice is the caloric equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar.
Vietnam has recently imposed a ban on rice exports to help stabilize domestic food prices. Vietnam is currently facing double-digit inflation. Bad weather also damaged part of agricultural crops in northern Vietnam early this year. Rice exports will be restricted until the month of June.
Rice bandits are scaring Thailand's countryside. In the Philippines, rice hoarders are colluding with agricultural officials to jack up rice prices. Observers believe there is no immediate fear of a rice crisis in Myanmar as most of the rice consumed in the country is produced domestically.
The global rice crisis is an opportunity to review the food security programs of Southeast Asian nations. What steps are being taken to mitigate hunger in the region? What are the reform measures which should be implemented to improve agricultural productivity?
Now is also the time to minimize or even abandon the planting of biofuels or agrofuels in Southeast Asia. Rice and food production should be prioritized.
Land conversions should be regulated to ensure availability of rice supplies. There is nothing wrong in building hotels, shopping malls, golf courses and entertainment hubs as long as the food security of nations is not compromised.
There will be an emergency meeting of Southeast Asian Ministers to discuss the rice crisis. The agenda of the caucus should be broadened to include long-term food sustainability in the region.
--
(Mong Palatino is a youth activist, regional editor for Southeast Asia of Global Voices Online, and news editor of Yehey!, a Philippine-based web portal. He can be reached at mongpalatino@gmail.com and his Web site is www.mongpalatino.motime.com. ©Copyright Mong Palatino.)
Column: Peripheries
Published: April 16, 2008
MANILA, Philippines, Rice is the staple food in Southeast Asia and in many parts of the world. But it is not just a food that fulfills hunger. Rice has enriched the cultures of many Asian societies.
In Thailand, asking "Have you eaten rice today?' is a way of saying "How are you?" In Vietnam it is proper to say "please eat rice" before every meal, even if the meal does not include rice. In Brunei elders remind the children to finish their meal to the last grain of rice because if not, the rice would cry.
Asians have developed a rice-flavored ice-cream, rice wine, rice cake, and rice paper. There is an annual rice festival in the Philippines. A colonial ruler of Indochina once remarked: "The Vietnamese plant rice, the Cambodians watch it grow and the Lao listen to it grow."
Indeed, rice is a precious commodity in Southeast Asia. It is not surprising that many people in the region are worried over reports that rice is getting more expensive and supplies are dwindling. Southeast Asian governments are assuring their constituents that prices will stabilize soon and there will be no shortages in the local markets.
Thailand is the world's biggest rice exporter. Other Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar are rice exporters too. On the other hand, the Philippines is the world's top rice importer.
The rice price in Indonesia is slightly lower than in the world market. An Indonesian minister asserts that the government would no longer import rice this year because with last year's rice procurement drive, Indonesia now has more than 1 million tons in stock.
In Singapore and Malaysia, consumers are buying all the rice available in the market even if authorities are assuring the public that there are ample stocks of rice in the market.
Rice is a controlled item in Brunei and Malaysia. In Brunei the price of rice has not changed, since the government is subsidizing the price. Malaysia has been giving subsidies to rice farmers for many years now. There is a proposal in Malaysia to abolish subsidies for sugar and cooking oil in order to continue supporting subsidies for staple food items such as rice and flour.
Unfortunately, the Philippine government has been encouraged by the World Bank not to give subsidies to rice farmers since according to the financial lending institution it will be counter productive.
Since the start of the global rice crisis, Cambodia has suspended rice exports as speculators continue to gamble on the increasing demand for the food staple. The government is complaining that the opposition is taking advantage of the rice situation by conducting black propaganda against the ruling party.
Cambodian leader Hun Sen reminds his constituents that the price of rice should have soared in 2000-2001 when there was a major flood in Cambodia; but the price of rice during that time was stable. Hun Sen blames "dishonest people who are instigating rumors" about a rice shortage in the market.
The Philippine government is asking its people to reduce their consumption of rice. Instead of rice, the public is requested to eat more sweet potatoes. In Malaysia the government is asked to give more support to the poultry industry and fruit and vegetable farmers. Health experts explain that reducing consumption of rice is not bad at all since rice and other grains like wheat and corn are actually worse than sugar. One bowl of cooked rice is the caloric equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar.
Vietnam has recently imposed a ban on rice exports to help stabilize domestic food prices. Vietnam is currently facing double-digit inflation. Bad weather also damaged part of agricultural crops in northern Vietnam early this year. Rice exports will be restricted until the month of June.
Rice bandits are scaring Thailand's countryside. In the Philippines, rice hoarders are colluding with agricultural officials to jack up rice prices. Observers believe there is no immediate fear of a rice crisis in Myanmar as most of the rice consumed in the country is produced domestically.
The global rice crisis is an opportunity to review the food security programs of Southeast Asian nations. What steps are being taken to mitigate hunger in the region? What are the reform measures which should be implemented to improve agricultural productivity?
Now is also the time to minimize or even abandon the planting of biofuels or agrofuels in Southeast Asia. Rice and food production should be prioritized.
Land conversions should be regulated to ensure availability of rice supplies. There is nothing wrong in building hotels, shopping malls, golf courses and entertainment hubs as long as the food security of nations is not compromised.
There will be an emergency meeting of Southeast Asian Ministers to discuss the rice crisis. The agenda of the caucus should be broadened to include long-term food sustainability in the region.
--
(Mong Palatino is a youth activist, regional editor for Southeast Asia of Global Voices Online, and news editor of Yehey!, a Philippine-based web portal. He can be reached at mongpalatino@gmail.com and his Web site is www.mongpalatino.motime.com. ©Copyright Mong Palatino.)
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