Food problem: rice shortage

Middle of this year, prices of rice rose to almost double is long time cost per kilo.

There were reports of hoarding by unscrupulous rice traders who wants to make a killing by keeping away tons of rice they bought at pre-increase cost and sell them when prices have doubled. Several of these greedy businessmen were discovered and punished accordingly.

I just hope that the televised surprise inspections and arrest are not just for show.

Other traders profit by saying that rice production is not nearly enough. If I remember my economics class in high school and college, the decrease in supply triggers a natural increase in cost.

During a recent trip to Baguio City, I was able to see the wide rice fields of Bulacan and Pampanga. this made me wonder, is there really a shortage?



The vast greens sprawling as the eyes can see makes one wonder - are we really short of supply?

Sure, last summer's drought and this season's typhoons damage crops and farmers lose millions but do we really consume that much rice? I for one can eat two service cups of rice. But sadly, others can't even finish half a cup.



I think our problem really is not the supply but rather the consumption. I believe there is no problem with consumption especially when the youngsters now are more concerned of their weight and their figure and prefer to have less rice in their diets.

People tend to buy more rice than they can eat. Merchants sell more rice than their customers can handle.

We do not have a deficit in rice supply but rather a surplus in wasted rice. By wasting rice, we rob those who need them more of the supply that they could have had.