Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

UPDATE 1-Myanmar cyclone stirs more rice supply fears

Mon May 5, 2008 9:04pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

(Adds revised death toll, aid to be accepted)

By Grant McCool

BANGKOK, May 5 (Reuters) - The cyclone and flooding in Myanmar's two major rice growing areas have "potentially serious effects" for food supply in two other impoverished countries, a U.N. official said on Monday.

World Food Programme spokesman Paul Risley said it was not yet known whether Myanmar could meet its commitments to supply tens of thousands of tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka and neighbouring Bangladesh.

He said it was too early yet to assess the damage to crops in the main rice-producing regions.

"These are longer term questions and a major issue of concern because of the potentially serious effects for food supply in those countries at a time when global supplies are short," he said.

In the former Myanmar capital Yangon, an official said the planned shipment of 50,000 tonnes of milled rice to Sri Lanka in May may be delayed as the government needs to check its stocks.

"We are still carrying out a damage survey of our rice stocks and will make an appropriate decision after that," said an official at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Commerce and Industry, who declined to be identified.

Myanmar state media said in April the country had exported about 400,000 tonnes of rice in the past year because it had enough supplies to feed its 53 million people.  Continued...

India Investment Summit 2009
India Investment Summit 2009

Top executives and bankers discuss their own plans and the broader opportunities and challenges for India.  Full Coverage 

Hugh Hefner
PLAYBOY SALE
An icon bows to changing times

With his Playboy Enterprises in talks to be sold for about $300 million, the 83 year-old Hugh Hefner will be giving up control over the iconic adult entertainment empire he founded that was instrumental in shaping society's opinions on nudity, sex and free speech.  Full Article 

A man walks past a bronze statue of a bull outside the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building in Mumbai in this March 25, 2008 file photo. REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe/Files
Bubble trouble?

With India's benchmark stock index, the BSE Sensex, at around 17,000 points, are the Indian equity markets looking at a possible bubble?  Commentary 

Market Update

  • IndiaIndia
  • USUS
  • UKUK
  • Asia
  • Most Actives

SPECIAL REPORT

Himangshu Watts
India's food dilemma

Indian farms are failing to attract capital or talent, either from rich landlords or the students who graduate from agricultural universities.  Full Article | Related Story 

showcase

U.S. Recession
U.S. Recession

A trip through the epicenters of the American recession.  Full Coverage 

 
Central Banks Cautious
Central Banks Cautious

Reuters tracks the policies of the world's top central banks as the debate over global economic recovery rages on.   Full Coverage 

 
T P Raman
Column - RBI leads the world

Reserve Bank of India's approach ring-fenced the banking system.   Full Article 

 
Funding Blues
Funding Blues

A popular tactic used by Indian brokerages to raise money for rich clients is likely to be banned.  Full Article 

 
Not Enough Jobs
Not Enough Jobs

Venture capital creates jobs, but not enough.  Full Article 

 
Column - A Sweet Dream
Column - A Sweet Dream

There are good reasons for Ferrero to consider a combination with Cadbury.  Full Article