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Rice shortage
hits Indian stores in US too |
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New York, April 25 (IANS) After
big retail chains like WalMart, some Indian grocery stores too have
begun rationing the sale of rice following shortages caused by export
bars by countries including India.
A spokesperson for Patel Brothers in Jackson Heights, New York,
confirmed that customers now cannot buy more than two bags of rice.
"All the rice we stock comes from India," the spokesperson told IANS.
"But with India banning export, we will have problem replenishing our
stock."
In the process, prices have doubled over the past few months, he added.
Narinder Singh, who owns Hicksville Subzi Mandi, said there were queues
of people at his grocery store in Long Island, New York, buying 3-4 bags
of rice and wheat each.
"We have not yet put a limit on how much each one can buy, but you never
know what will happen tomorrow," Singh said.
On Wednesday, two of America's largest warehouse chains imposed limits
on purchase of rice because of panic buying triggered by tightening
supplies and rising prices.
Wal-Mart's cash and carry division, Sam's Club, announced a cap of four
bags of rice per person to prevent supplies from running short. Rival
Costco did the same in parts of California.
India's restriction on export of all rice, except basmati, is being
blamed in part for the rice stampede. India is the second largest
producer of rice and wheat in the world.
Other major rice producing countries including China, Vietnam and Egypt
have also imposed limits on exports to keep domestic prices down.
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer Thursday sought to calm the frayed
nerves of consumers, saying there was no shortage of rice in the US.
He also said the surge in rice prices to record heights at the Chicago
Board of Trade, the world's largest grain exchange, could be attributed
in part to speculation about future rice shortages.
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Comments:If
small acreage Indian farmers collaborate and make large acreage
cooperative farms using mechanized high yield, hybrid seeding,
fertilizing, harvesting, efficient storage, transportation, and
distribution India should aim to double its rice and wheat
production in less than five years lifting the present curb on
exports. (Rice shortage hits Indian stores in US too - April 25)
What happened to green revolution?
Rice and wheat price increase is real as Dollar has devalued
compared to Rupee and almost doubling the diesel and crude oil
price in last couple of years is responsible for the increase in
transportation costs creating the hoarding by greedy customers
and Asian restaurant owners which consume high amount of rice on
daily basis. Even saffron, nick named as red gold, has
quadrupled its price in one year to $72 per OZ for the highest
grade 240 Coloring Power, within last one year due to the
saffron crop failures.
US consumers should not panic since US is the fourth largest
rice producing country in the world and only 10 percent rice is
exported while 90 percent is used within 50 states. Importing
rice to US does not make sense except the price advantage thus
far from low-labor countries such as India which has virtually
been eliminated now due to curb on wheat and rice exports from
India, Pakistan, and Thailand.
Shantu Shah
6637 SW 88th Place
Portland, Oregon 97223
PH: 503-245-1722
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