EDITORIAL
In the water there are fish and in the fields there is rice. And this ancient reminder applies to Thailand, not just to the Sukhothai of King Ramkhamhaeng, who is credited with the historical quote. Our country is one of the most abundant in the world. It is one of a handful which exports far more food than it buys, and thus contributes a huge amount to feeding the ever-growing population worldwide. It is vital to remember this, and to be responsible at a time when new food shortages look likely in some parts of the world.
A food surplus such as that which Thailand enjoys, is a blessing, but also can be a curse. Last month, Thais grappled with economic inflation which sent up food prices and the cost of living by an estimated 3%. At the same time, most of the rest of the world had a somewhat different problem. Food prices went up 5% globally _ but not because of inflation, economic recovery and business success. Rather, speculators and a short supply of wheat spurred the price increases.
Much of the Russian wheat crop was burnt in the fields by the massive wildfires of the last couple of months. Because of that, Russia slapped a ban on wheat exports that will last through 2011. It is a huge inhibitor and at best a minor disaster to a world where only recently demands for more wheat have grown because of what were believed to be reliable Russian supplies. Wet weather in Canada has cut grain production, as have droughts in Argentina and Australia. Among the biggest food exporters, only the United States and Thailand have not been impacted severely.
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