The true price of rice: Rising rice prices will negate progress in poverty reduction

摘要

Of the world's I.I billion poor people, almost 700 million people with income of less than a dollar a day reside in rice-growing countries of Asia. Rice is a staple food in Asia and accounts for more than 40% of the calorie consumption of most Asians.Poor people spend a large proportion of their income for buying rice. The level of rice production and prices is thus an important factor in determining the progress that can be made in reducing poverty in Asia. Keeping the price of rice low and affordable to the poor is crucial to poverty reduction. Given this, the current sustained upward trend in rice price is a major cause for concern.