Rice to Cost P40/kilo?

**Monseratto** · March 26th, 2008 06:21 PM

Parang naging ginto na ang bigas...

Panic as soaring prices lure rice bandits

Rice farmers in Thailand are guarding paddyields and hurrying to harvest their crops after a theft last week which fuelled rumours that surging rice prices were attracting bandits.

Reports of widespread theft, although unsubstantiated by police, spread quickly after 220lb of premium-quality fragrant rice was stolen from a granary in Kalasin province, 300 miles north-east of Bangkok. "Villagers have set up teams and are patrolling the community," said Urit Poo-aob, a district chief in Kalasin.

The north-east is the key producing region for premium-grade fragrant rice in Thailand, the world's biggest rice exporter.

Thai rice prices have been rising since late last year when India banned exports of non-basmati rice to ensure it had enough for its own people. Vietnam, the number two rice exporter, has halted exports for two months in order to meet Filipino contracts.

As a result, the price of Thai premium fragrant rice has soared 30 per cent to nearly $900 (£450) a tonne. Thai 100 per cent B grade white rice has also risen 30 per cent, to $600 a tonne, fuelling rumours of rice bandits swooping on unguarded paddy fields at night.

Some farmers in the white rice growing province of Sing Buri have slept in their paddyfields after rumours spread of a 1,000kg raid. However, police have received no formal complaint. "There are many rumours, but no one has come forward to tell us that they were robbed," police said.

Nevertheless, the rumours have been strong enough to prompt many farmers to harvest their crops as quickly as possible. "Most of the rice grown in Suphan Buri has already been harvested. It's around 10 to 20 days earlier than expected," said an agricultural official.

**chilli** · March 26th, 2008 07:38 PM

i just kanina yung news. possible pa daw na umabot ng PHP50/kilo ang bigas. And may nakita na sindikato sa Isabela yung mga NFA rice binabalot then binibenta as commercial rice. these syndicates pa nga registered as cooperatives para mabigyan ng NFA rice. hay grabe na talaga ang poverty dito sa atin.

**uls** · March 26th, 2008 10:10 PM

Cambodia has halted rice exports

Indonesia is going to stop rice exports soon.

The only countries the Phils. can buy rice from are Vietnam and Thailand and the US...

but there's a catch --- the price --- it's gonna be almost $1000 a ton.

Before it was just $400 a ton, then went up to $700.

**ringostarr** · March 27th, 2008 02:26 AM

ok lang yan isang tasang rice lang naman dapat every meal eh. masyado na tayo mga pinoy nagsasayang ng rice kaya dumating na kapalit ng pang-aabuso natin

pero bilib talaga ako sa mga opportunista/speculators sa market natin ngaun, particularly asean market yun mga taken for granted na commodities kunwari pina-pa-rare para makapag kalat ng paranoia to people

**theveed** · March 27th, 2008 08:56 AM

I still don't get why an agricultural country like the Phil still relies on imported rice and can't export rice as well... Vietnam, India, China, Thailand and Malaysia all exports rice and are able to control their rice supply somewhat by limiting export when food shortage is eminent.

**Syuryuken** · March 27th, 2008 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by chilli

i just kanina yung news. possible pa daw na umabot ng PHP50/kilo ang bigas. And may nakita na sindikato sa Isabela yung mga NFA rice binabalot then binibenta as commercial rice. these syndicates pa nga registered as cooperatives para mabigyan ng NFA rice. hay grabe na talaga ang poverty dito sa atin.

dito naman yung mga negosyanteng intsik ang nananamantala itinatago nila yung mga bigas

**ringostarr** · March 27th, 2008 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by theveed

I still don't get why an agricultural country like the Phil still relies on imported rice and can't export rice as well... Vietnam, India, China, Thailand and Malaysia all exports rice and are able to control their rice supply somewhat by limiting export when food shortage is eminent.

sa pagkaalam ko start pa lang ng this year may warning na naman sa drought or el nino ba, baka yun nakaapekto