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The Philippines' food worries amid Ukraine war and typhoons
[BBC] Felix Pangibitan runs his hands through what is left of his precious rice crop.The stalks in nearly two-thirds of the field are bent double; most are flattened, others have been snapped at the neck by strong typhoon winds which reached more than 150mph (241km/h). "It looks so pitiful," he says in a video which has now gone viral across the Philippines. "It's a waste. It's so hard to be a farmer." Farmin B. Hard nods in agreement It's a loss both Felix and the country can ill afford - especially this year, as food costs have soared to alarming levels. His farm in Nueva Ecija on the main island of Luzon was one of thousands in the path of a powerful storm which hit the country's so-called "Rice Bowl". More than $22m (£18.2m) worth of crops were destroyed in 24 hours. "I can't remember all the typhoons and their names but this has been the most heartbreaking one yet," he told us. His simple heartfelt videos struck a chord across the Philippines, especially among the poorest communities which have been hit by multiple crises. As in much of the world, the price of food, fuel and fertiliser have all increased here since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. But the Philippines is particularly vulnerable. It has to import food - including rice and all cereals such as wheat - to feed its growing population, making it one of the most food-insecure countries in Asia.
Posted by: Skidmark 2022-12-29 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=653738 |