The cost of rice . . .

. . . the staple food for almost half the world's population, has now risen by more than 50% since the start of the year.

This rise has been driven by both supply and demand factors, including shortages due to poor harvests, as well as growing populations. More recently, forecasts of further price rises have prompted hoarding, making matters worse.

China is the world's biggest rice producer, but almost all of its crop is kept for the domestic market. With the world's largest population to feed, Beijing keeps rice prices subsidised. Thailand is the world's largest rice exporter.

"Although Asia’s farmers and exporters should be laughing all the way to the bank over the rapidly increasing price of rice, they aren’t.

All sides – producers and consumers – are suffering and governments are struggling to cope, and farmers in Thailand, the Philippines and other countries are guarding their fields at night to prevent theft." [Asia Sentinel] This photograph was taken only last Sunday on the outskirts of Bangkok,