May 25, 2008 (LPAC)--With the FAO meeting in Rome taking place in only 9 days, the international food crisis continues to sweep through nations whose right to food self-sufficiency has been stolen and replaced by British free-trade policy. While many of these nations are escalating the fight for their right to food, their ultimate survival requires a total victory for the world system, defined in LaRouche's proposal for a New Bretton Woods, which demands nationally sovereignty. Below is an update of the crisis in a number of low-income food deficit countries (LIFDC) in Asia:

North Korea - 2007 cereal harvest fell from 4mmt to 3mmt, laving a deficit of 1.66 mmt, with the major declines in maize and rice. The Public Distribution System has reduced rations.

China expects record harvests in wheat and rice, but the price spike and the decline in stocks threatens a social explosion. FAO reports China's emergency measures:

*Increased minimum purchase price of wheat and rice by about 7%

*Increased subsidies for farm machinery, fuel and fertilizer by 71%

*Increased seed subsidies, funds for flood and draught protection, and agricultural infrastructure

*Increased subsidies for loan payments, animal inspection and quarantine

*Waving fees for transportation of fresh produce

* Increased loans to middle and western provinces

*Removed VAT export rebates (in Dec. 2007), and imposed export duties by between 5-25%

*Imposed export quotas on flour, maize and rice

*Released wheat and maize stocks

Viet Nam - Despite record rice crops, the cold weather which struck the north (the same record cold as in southern China) destroyed 150,000 hectares of rice in the northern part of Vietnam, and also killed 90,000 head of cattle or buffalo.

Cambodia - Two month ban on rice stocks announced in April, and the release of rice stocks.

Pakistan - Raised duties on wheat exports, and raised wheat subsidies by 23%.

Indonesia - Shortages of soybeans (a direct result of 1998 IMF conditionalities breaking Indonesia's 100% self sufficiency in soy).

Philippines - Planning to reduce tariffs on rice and maize. The government sells imported rice at 50% below market prices.

Bangladesh and Malaysia - subsidizing rice prices.

Thailand - released 650,000 tons of rice stocks.

(Picture: Map of Low-Income Food Deficit Countries--© FAO, 2008)