VOA常速英语2008年-Thai Rice Prices Hit Record; UN Concerned About

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
24 April 2008

Rice prices in Thailand, the world's leading exporter, reached a record of over one-thousand dollars a ton.  As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok the increase in rice and food prices generally will be the center of debate at a U.N. conference next week.

The surge in rice prices in Thailand continues, with traders reporting benchmark rates climbing more than five percent on Thursday.

Prices have tripled since January, with a ton of Thai rice now selling for more than one-thousand dollars.  Rising food prices around the world already have led to food riots in some African nations and Haiti, and protests elsewhere.

There are fears prices could go higher in Thailand, the world's largest exporter, if Iran and Indonesia decide to buy rice on the international market.

U.N. officials have put food prices at the top of the agenda for an Asia-Pacific ministerial meeting in Bangkok next week.

Noeleen Heyzer is executive secretary for the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific - ESCAP.  She says part of the problem has been poor oversight¹ of farming in several countries.

"Growth has been centered on the urban areas and also the townships, and there has been a terrible neglect of the agricultural sector².  For example, in India where the overall growth rate is nine percent, but the agricultural sector is 2.2 percent," Heyzer said.

The Thai Rice Exporters Association says there is a shortfall of 30 million tons in world rice stockpiles.  The shortage is the result of several factors, including rising demand from countries such as China and India, a severe drought in Australia, and the conversion³ of farm land to industrial and urban use.

"You have speculation⁴ the of food prices and you also have the fact that there is a growing middle class and a wealthy population that is changing in its food intake⁵ as well as its food patterns," Heyzer said.

The food inflation also hurts aid organizations trying to feed refugees and the poor around the world.  An official at one agency helping⁶ Burmese refugees in Thailand says rising prices have left his organization with a $6 million budget shortfall.  He says that without additional funding, the organization may be forced to halve⁷ the ration⁸ given to individuals.  

1 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

2 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

3 conversion   

n.转化，转换，转变

参考例句：

• He underwent quite a conversion.他彻底变了。
• Waste conversion is a part of the production process.废物处理是生产过程的一个组成部分。

4 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

5 intake   

n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口

参考例句：

• Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
• There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 halve   

vt.分成两半，平分；减少到一半

参考例句：

• Let's halve the project between our two teams.让我们两个队平均分担这项工程吧。
• I'll halve expenses with you.我要跟你平均分摊费用。

8 ration   

n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应

参考例句：

• The country cut the bread ration last year.那个国家去年削减面包配给量。
• We have to ration the water.我们必须限量用水。