More Rice Price Panic Headlines

The problem just keeps growing.

Food prices in Western Africa have gotten unbelievably out of control. Rice prices in Senegal have risen by 300%. Riots are spreading as a result, and four people just died in Haitian food riots. NYC food pantries are reporting frightening shortages. Meanwhile, the World Food Program is saying that the current food prices are the result of a ‘perfect storm.’

And then there are the Cambodian headlines:

• Commodity Prices in Battambang
• Commodity Prices in Phnom Penh
• Garment workers [further] tightening their belts

Some weird mixed signals from regional governments

• Hun Sen asks farmers to save rice for themselves
• Thai Prime Minister demands an end to hoarding of rice

Some nice Land use maps from Maytel and the IRRI

And just in case you thought this was going to be limited to an economic crash only in the agricultural sectors (as if), note that Thailand’s “lucky charms” are losing value – rapidly. [via New Mandala]