Archive for the ‘rice’ tag
Rice Rationing… in America? #
The world food crisis hits home. At least at Sam’s Club.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said its Sam’s Club wholesale club chain is limiting the sale of some rice to four bags per member visit because of what it described as “supply and demand trends.”
Jasmine, basmati and long-grain white rices will be subject to those purchase restrictions, as long as they are allowed by law, in the 594 clubs across the U.S., said Sam’s Club spokeswoman Kristy Reed. New Mexico and Idaho are the only two states that forbid such practice, she said.
And just to scare you a bit more, a note from Marc Ambinder:
“Wal-Mart said at this point, it’s not limiting purchases of flour or oil.”
At this point.
The Consequences of High Rice Prices #
The Economist is — with some justification — rather pessimistic about the possible impact of sky-high commodity prices on Asian politics. The introduction:
THE soaring price of rice and dwindling stockpiles of Asia’s staple food are causing anxiety across the continent. In particular the Philippines, a big, hungry country which cannot grow enough to feed itself, could be in trouble. The front pages of Manila’s newspapers scream about a “rice crisis”, as politicians float drastic solutions, such as forcing the country’s top 100 companies to take up rice farming. Farmers in Thailand, the world’s largest rice exporter, are delighted with the price surge, although some were this week said to be hiring guards to protect their valuable crops against “rice bandits”.
And the bleak conclusion:
The region needs a new green revolution, especially if it wants to avoid revolutions of the blood-stained variety.