Rice crisis fuels tensions

[Hydrogen]

Wheat crops are at great risk due to the spread of a fungus (ug99). Because the spores can be spread around the world in the jet stream, no wheat-growing country is without risk. There have been two such fungal epidemics in North American wheat crops, in both cases yields were reduced by about one third. This fungus is already spreading through Africa and Asia.

 

[doady]

Flour has already doubled. Yes, it will be hard for the poor, but the answer is not to subsidize food as we have and continue to do. Income supplements are the answer.

The key is for us (the developed world) is to stop subsidizing our farmers who dump their crops onto foreign markets and put farmers in the developing world out of business, simultaneously making these countries poorer AND driving up their food prices.

 

[EnviroTO]

This is a food crisis not a farm employment crisis. How would you do income supplements in the third world? The third world countries are having a hard time with their debt already. Subsidizing farmers might harm farmers in other developed countries but in third world countries with large internal populations to feed it wouldn't be hurting them much. India has had to slap food export taxes to keep food in the country. It would only be too happy to receive food made even cheaper through foreign subsidy.

 

[doady]

This is a food crisis not a farm employment crisis. How would you do income supplements in the third world? The third world countries are having a hard time with their debt already. Subsidizing farmers might harm farmers in other developed countries but in third world countries with large internal populations to feed it wouldn't be hurting them much. India has had to slap food export taxes to keep food in the country. It would only be too happy to receive food made even cheaper through foreign subsidy.

Can't you read? Where did I talk about India or any other poor country subsidizing their farmers? I was talking rich countries subsidizing their farmers who then dump their crops onto the markets of poor countries.

 

[afransen]

This is a food crisis not a farm employment crisis. How would you do income supplements in the third world? The third world countries are having a hard time with their debt already. Subsidizing farmers might harm farmers in other developed countries but in third world countries with large internal populations to feed it wouldn't be hurting them much. India has had to slap food export taxes to keep food in the country. It would only be too happy to receive food made even cheaper through foreign subsidy.

If we want to help with the food crisis, subsidizing our farmers is the wrong tack. Given the hundreds of billions the west lavishes on food subsidies, we could ensure that hundreds of millions are better able to afford food. Farmers help form the basis of local economies. If farmers in the developing world have the opportunity to compete without western dumping, their rising incomes will help the surrounding areas. It's tragic that there are people who can't afford food, but what do you propose to do that is more cost effective than helping the poor buy food?