The two southeast Asian countries have lowered the minimum export price for the grain: larger harvests and increased supplies induce optimism among experts in the sector. The former kingdom, meanwhile, risks hunger among 50% of the population.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Yesterday, Vietnam lowered the minimum price for exported rice, while the Thai market for the grain registered a fall of 3%: these are the first positive signs of the growth in supplies expected in upcoming months, which are dissipating the doubts about a possible shortage of the main food in the Asian diet.  The abolition of the ban on exports from Vietnam and Cambodia, moreover, is drawing a sigh of relief from the governments in the area and from private import-export companies, because it helps to contain prices and combat inflation.

Last week, the price of white Thai rice, a point of reference for the worldwide market, fell by 25 dollars  per tonne, from 795 to 770; a reduction of more than 28% compared to the record price reached last April 24 of 1,080 dollars per tonne, caused by the general panic over a possible - and imminent - famine.  In addition to resuming exports, Vietnam - following the example of Thailand - has cut the minimum price of rice by 2.5%, from 800 dollars per tonne to 780.  The government of Bangkok also says that expectations for the June and July harvest have risen to about 7.6 million tonnes: a decisive increase compared to the 4 million tonnes harvested last year.

Meanwhile, Nepal is seeing an unprecedented food crisis: according to UN agencies, about 2.5 million Nepalese - approximately 10% of the population - require immediate aid, and another 3.9 million are at risk of malnutrition because of the indiscriminate rise in prices.  The state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation has imposed an increase of about 25% in the cost of fuel for the month of June, a decision that unleashed violent street protests and mass strikes, which caused a two-day shutdown in the country's transportation system.  About one third of the Nepalese live on less than one dollar a day, and even before the crisis in recent days, the price of cooking oil, kerosene, and rice had risen by 30, 23, and 17 percent respectively over the last six months.  According to the head of the World Food Programme in Nepal, Richard Ragan, with the most recent price increases "the poverty rate could grow from 31 percent to 50 percent and malnutrition rates are likely to rise significantly".

• Vietnam
• Nepal
• Thailand
• rice
• prices
• food
• crisis
• shortage
• famine
• inflation