The Rice Crisis: Markets, Policies and Food Security / Edition 1

by David Dawe

Overview

The recent escalation of world food prices – particularly for cereals - prompted mass public indignation and demonstrations in many countries, from the price of tortilla flour in Mexico to that of rice in the Philippines and pasta in Italy. The crisis has important implications for future government trade and food security policies, as countries re-evaluate their reliance on potentially more volatile world markets to augment domestic supplies of staple foods.

This book examines how government policies caused and responded to soaring world prices in the particular case of rice, which is the world's most important source of calories for the poor. Comparable case studies of policy reactions in different countries, principally across Asia, but also including the USA, provide the understanding necessary to evaluate the impact of trade policy on the food security of poor farmers and consumers. They also provide important insights into the concerns of developing countries that are relevant for future international trade negotiations in key agricultural commodities. As a result, more appropriate policies can be put in place to ensure more stable food supplies in the future. Published with the Food and Agriculture (FAO) Organization of the United Nations

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849711340
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/22/2010
Edition description:	1
Pages:	364
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

David Dawe is a Senior Economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. A graduate of Harvard University, he has studied the Asian rice economy for more than 20 years, including 15 years resident in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

Table of Contents

Foreword Kostas Stamoulis vii

Preface ix

List of contributors xi

List of figures and tables xiii

List of acronyms and abbreviations xxi

Part I Introduction

1 Food Crises Past, Present (and Future?): Will We Ever Learn? C. Peter Timmer David Dawe 3

Part II Overview: The World Rice Market and Trade Policies

2 The World Rice Market Crisis of 2007-2008 David Dawe Tom Slayton 15

3 Did Speculation Affect World Rice Prices? C. Peter Timmer 29

4 Trade-Related Policies to Ensure Food (Rice) Security in Asia Alexander Sarris 61

Part III Policy Responses in Traditional Importing Countries

5 Volatility in Rice Prices and Policy Responses in Bangladesh Mahabub Hossain Uttam Deb 91

6 Indonesia's Rice Policy and Price Stabilization Programme: Managing Domestic Prices during the 2008 Crisis Agus Saifullah 109

7 Rice Crisis in the Philippines: Why Did it Occur and What Are its Policy Implications? Arsenio M. Balisacan Mercedita A. Sombilla Rowell C. Dikitanan 123

8 West African Experience with the World Rice Crisis, 2007-2008 Jenny C. Aker Steven Block Vijaya Ramachandran C. Peter Timmer 143

9 Rice in Africa: Will Imports Continue to Grow? Ousman Gajigo Glenn Denning 163

Part IV Policy Responses in Traditional Exporting Countries

10 The Political Economy of Thailand's Rice Price and Export Policies in 2007-2008 Nipon Poapongsakorn 191

11 The Vietnamese Rice Industry during the Global Food Crisis Pham Hoang Ngan 219

12 Rice Production in Cambodia: Will Exports Continue to Grow? Sushil Pandey Humnath Bhandari 233

Part V Policy Responses in China and India

13 How China Stabilized Grain Prices during the Global Price Crisis Cheng Fang 255

14 Rice Policies in India in the Context of the Global Rice Price Spike Ashok Gulati Monica Dutta 273

Part VI Policy Responses in the Developed Countries

15 Japan's Rice Policy and its Role in the World Rice Market: Japan Should Act as a Watchdog Shoichi Ito 299

16 The 'Diplomatic Crop', or How the US Provided Critical Leadership in Ending the Rice Crisis Tom Slayton 313

Part VII Conclusion

17 Can the Next Rice Crisis Be Prevented? David Dawe 345

Index 357

Editorial Reviews

'This book, with chapters from many prominent experts, presents new evidence from the recent rice price crisis and draws lessons for preventing the next crisis. It is a unique set of references on global food security and the world rice market.' Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) 'This book is a must-read for those who wish to understand the world rice market, trade policies and food security concerns. It provides a careful and detailed analysis of the causes and consequences of the 2007 and 2008 global rice crisis. It is written by knowledgeable experts from the key rice economy nations.' Professor Eric J. Wailes, University of Arkansas, USA

From the Publisher