World Rice Shortage - is our Gov prepared ?

last SG · 2008-03-29T11:39:54+00:00

... I tell you, our over-paid govt. are only concerned about and busy all the time hoarding money... ... what we'd get from them under these critical circums...

Atobe SG

A world rice shortage has been looming for the last 24 months, and the situation has not improved up till today.

Rice producing countries are reducing export quantities, and not renewing current rice export contracts, or reducing the volume of existing export contracts - so as to ensure their own domestic supplies and to maintain social and political stabiliy within their own countries.

The last time that Singapore experienced a similar situation was during the 1970s, when Singaporeans were encouraged to switch to wheat products and reduce rice consumption.

Unfortunately for Singaporeans, wheat prices will be as high as the prices for rice, and the world is similarly facing shortages in wheat supply as well.

Is the Government preparing Singaporeans towards the storm that is brewing ?

Vietnam, the world's second-biggest rice exporter, said it would cut exports by 22% this year, following similar moves by India and Egypt.

Analysts said the Vietnam government wanted to stabilise domestic prices.

Global rice prices have soared by 50% in the past two months raising supply concerns across Asia.

Thailand is the world's largest rice exporter.

China subsidies

While rice prices have risen primarily because of increasing demand from population growth, they have also been lifted by poor recent crops in Vietnam.

Neighbouring Cambodia has also recently introduced limits on rice exports.

China is the world's biggest rice producer, but almost all of its crop is kept for the domestic market.

With the world's largest population to feed, Beijing keeps rice prices subsidised.

It said on Friday that it would now pay farmers more for both rice and wheat in an attempt to boost crop production and cool surging inflation.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7317989.stm

淋雨 SG

so what you want them to do? build granaries to store grains like what they did for sands? build a padi field in Pulau Tekong?

anyway, this is a worldwide trend so money makes the world go round. pay a higher price to buy them lah

Uncle Ver SG SG

Eh they can build big munitions dump but not grain silo? We eat bullets for the PAP ok.

Atobe SG

so what you want them to do? build granaries to store grains like what they did for sands? build a padi field in Pulau Tekong?

anyway, this is a worldwide trend so money makes the world go round. pay a higher price to buy them lah

The Ministers are paid million dollar salaries from Singaporean tax payer's money - should you not expect a minimum standard of performance to prevent the worst falling onto Singaporeans ?

The writings are already on the wall and this government has a track record of ignoring the clear signs of impending storm, and making public response only when the storm has broken out,

As matters stand, money may not even buy you the rice or wheat - when the producing countries will not sell what little that they have, as they form the staple food for all of us.

Alucard101 SG

Yes in view of this GST will be increased.

maurizio13 SG

Eh they can build big munitions dump but not grain silo? We eat bullets for the PAP ok.

T.Ryousuke SG

Doom Day Started.

PointofView SG

The Ministers are paid million dollar salaries from Singaporean tax payer's money - should you not expect a minimum standard of performance to prevent the worst falling onto Singaporeans ?

The writings are already on the wall and this government has a track record of ignoring the clear signs of impending storm, and making public response only when the storm has broken out,

As matters stand, money may not even buy you the rice or wheat - when the producing countries will not sell what little that they have, as they form the staple food for all of us.

Like you say money may not even buy you the rice or wheat. So it already to the point of not really within the control of the goverment. What they can do is to find alternative source or try to curb the increasing of price to the best that they can.

Else eat potatoes loh since so many people always like to compare Singapore with western country, so might as well follow their eating habit too.

淋雨 SG

Eh they can build big munitions dump but not grain silo? We eat bullets for the PAP ok.

they can keep the ammo for a decade but they will keeping wevils in 3 months time. furthermore, this is a world wide storage, not like vegetables because of heavy rainfall in Genting, and we can bring in vegetable from China

kramnave SG

Besides, hoarding of rice by importers and curbing exports will only drive prices higher. Anyway, it's only an increase of price in rice, not world famine.

TCH05 SG

As long as Vietnam and Thailand are still nett exporter of rice, I dont think there will be much problem for us. Those who will suffer are the poorer developing countries because the price of rice will be out of reach.

But then again, at least we still have noodles as a substitute.

Uncle Ver SG SG

"they can keep the ammo for a decade"

Try eating bullets for just one day and tell me how they taste like. Dont need to be rice grain can be stockpile rice rations. I am sure there are advanced storage technologies to deter/destroy weevils etc. for grain though. Wait a second, don't tell me SAF have 3 days worth of rations for every soldier for any war.

Or maybe there is an arms shortage one day and Singapore can sell for much higher profit.

Uncle Ver SG SG

"Besides, hoarding of rice by importers and curbing exports will only drive prices higher."

Which is exactly what is happening right now for exporters. They can all form Rice consortium like OPEC in the future. Its pretty inelastic demand, for Asia anyway.

Here comes +% inflation.

kramnave SG

Hmm..perhaps its time to eat less rice haha...less carbo also good. Then again its only a $3 increase on a 10kg packet of rice. Not like we are peasants.

淋雨 SG

The Ministers are paid million dollar salaries from Singaporean tax payer's money - should you not expect a minimum standard of performance to prevent the worst falling onto Singaporeans ?

The writings are already on the wall and this government has a track record of ignoring the clear signs of impending storm, and making public response only when the storm has broken out,

As matters stand, money may not even buy you the rice or wheat - when the producing countries will not sell what little that they have, as they form the staple food for all of us.

Let's put that scandalous salaries thing aside.Like what you have mentioned, "money may not buy you rice or wheat - when the the producing countries will not sell what little they have".

So what can they do. Even if they will to give up their million dollars salaries, the problems will not go away.

If you insist on a milliion dollars salaried suggestion. let this "assumed million dollars salaried person" give you a solution. You you want to eat, just pay whatever price they demand or go for cheaper brand of rice, afterall rice is rice. Mind you, this work for you to obtain the rice you need. You you accept this answer as a solution?

Do come out with constructive suggestions if you have and don't opposed for the sake of opposing.

dukedracula SG

a lesson in history here…ntuc was once called ‘silo’, the purpose? to stockpile food and it’s supposed to do the same today, from what i understand, they are to hold 6 months worth of essential goods….if the crisis goes beyond 6 months…hmm i guess we have to eat grass….

this is what sci-fi writers had been writing since decades ago ya….food shortages, climate changes, natural disasters & etc….dooms day scenario countdown, the only thing now is to wait for the impending asteroid or for bush or some other nut to trigger nukes and begin the nuclear winter scenario…perhaps it’s time to get a religion….lol….

Uncle Ver SG SG

"Even if they will to give up their million dollars salaries, the problems will not go away."

If these people are paid to provide solutions, they are not doing a good job, thus undeserving of the salary. Same thing applies to CEOs of free market companies.

NTUC got so many warehouses meh; they can store 6 MONTHS worth of food. in Singapore. Yeah right. 3 million + 1.

dukedracula SG

i didn’t say 6 months worth of all types of food, staple stuff like rice, flour and whatever else, perhaps they may have bought 6 months worth of rice from thailand and have some stocked there…it’s a first in first out system…logistics management….

淋雨 SG

"Even if they will to give up their million dollars salaries, the problems will not go away."

If these people are paid to provide solutions, they are not doing a good job, thus undeserving of the salary. Same thing applies to CEOs of free market companies.

NTUC got so many warehouses meh; they can store 6 MONTHS worth of food. in Singapore. Yeah right. 3 million + 1.

there is such a thing call commodities trading or tading of futures. not necessary for you to keep a cow for milk

PointofView SG

If these people are paid to provide solutions, they are not doing a good job, thus undeserving of the salary. Same thing applies to CEOs of free market companies.

NTUC got so many warehouses meh; they can store 6 MONTHS worth of food. in Singapore. Yeah right. 3 million + 1

Please bear in mind that not everything is within their control and if they can provide you with a solution like cheaper brand rice, genetically modified rice etc can you accept it as a solution?