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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Klam on May 11, 2012, 02:49:54 PM

Title: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Klam on May 11, 2012, 02:49:54 PM
(http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3341/indianwheatrotting.jpg)

The following article was in todays London Metro newspaper.  A free give away paper that I normally pick up at the tube station on my way to work.

"Millions of tonnes of wheat are going to waste in India because there's nowhere to keep the grain dry.
After a bumper harvest, sacks full of the foodstuff are being left to rot - despite millions of the country's children starving.
Sharad Yadav, a key opposition leader. said it was a "Colossal waste of food".  He added that while people are dying of hunger, food grain is rotting in the open."

It has been a particularly good year for wheat crops in India but as a result, the country's storage space has run out.
Food minister KV Thomas said the government was taking "all necessary steps" to increase storage and working with the private sector to buy new warehouses.

About 42% of Indians under the age of five are malnourished.

Selling the grain at a subsidised price is not possible because it will expand the fiscal deficit, economists say."



After reading the article and being not too familiar with the "bean counters" lingo, I was a little confused as to what "expand the fiscal deficit" meant.
What I interpret from this phrase is that they are not going to allow someone to buy it at a subsidised rate and then risk the export of  it damaging the trade price of the good stuff.


The mind (mine anyway) boggles at the waste of a resource in this way :headscratch:
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Shuffler on May 11, 2012, 03:00:11 PM
Uncle Bens would ship huge amounts over to those third world countries and stand by as those countries leadership let it rot on the docks.

This is why we should just not try to help those countries. It waste food that could be out to better use for our own.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Dragon on May 11, 2012, 03:08:20 PM

That's what happens when the gruberment gets control of things.  
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: PFactorDave on May 11, 2012, 03:15:54 PM
This is what happens when "feel good" types blindly throw money at a problem without actually exposing the real issue.

Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: F22RaptorDude on May 11, 2012, 03:17:35 PM
To many people on this planet, and the numbers are still growing. Here's my question, why the heck are you going to have more kids when your original kids are starving as it is? Or better why have kids when you yourself are starving? Humanity is doing this to itself, why should we be involved in this
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Shuffler on May 11, 2012, 07:20:46 PM
To many people on this planet, and the numbers are still growing. Here's my question, why the heck are you going to have more kids when your original kids are starving as it is? Or better why have kids when you yourself are starving? Humanity is doing this to itself, why should we be involved in this

In some countries it is an accepted practice to have lots of kids. The idea is the same as in the animal world. Have lots and some will survive. Some folks make a living pointing out the starvation over there to raise funds which for the most part just line someone's pockets. They fail to point out that it is the accepted way of life in another country and business as usual.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Seanaldinho on May 11, 2012, 07:26:18 PM
See Rule #14
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: F22RaptorDude on May 11, 2012, 07:27:48 PM
See Rule #14
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Seanaldinho on May 11, 2012, 07:29:12 PM
School doesn't have that surprisingly. I've checked and asked, its absent  :(

You should be able to take it at a college as one of your social studies its an interesting course.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: F22RaptorDude on May 11, 2012, 07:31:18 PM
You should be able to take it at a college as one of your social studies its an interesting course.
I was planning on doing that actually, this just makes me want to do it even more
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Motherland on May 11, 2012, 10:00:46 PM
See Rule #14
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Reschke on May 11, 2012, 11:48:53 PM
See Rule #14
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: nrshida on May 12, 2012, 12:30:00 AM
Humanity is doing this to itself, why should we be involved in this

(http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k526/rwrk2/crazy10.gif)  Insightful comment. 
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: rogwar on May 12, 2012, 01:58:12 AM
See Rule #14
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: zack1234 on May 12, 2012, 03:47:22 AM
A friend of mine sister is a medic in the UK army and was explaining they use the black market contacts to distribute medical aid in Nigeria to the outlining villages.

I said that was shocking, but she stated that was the best method to distribute aid in a third world country.

The infrastructure in these countries are incapable of dealing with such issues as we are in the developed world dealing with "Our" certain problems.

India's infrastructure is mainly agricutural and village based and distrubution on a vast scale is not viable.

Its easy to jump to conclusions based on the usual themes ie population exceedind supply etc.

This has more to say about the developed socities than those in the third world.

In India they probly say silly people in the developed countries eating to much and have health issues due to eating to much :old:
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Rash on May 12, 2012, 06:52:09 AM
A friend of mine sister is a medic in the UK army and was explaining they use the black market contacts to distribute medical aid in Nigeria to the outlining villages.

I said that was shocking, but she stated that was the best method to distribute aid in a third world country.

The infrastructure in these countries are incapable of dealing with such issues as we are in the developed world dealing with "Our" certain problems.

India's infrastructure is mainly agricutural and village based and distrubution on a vast scale is not viable.

Its easy to jump to conclusions based on the usual themes ie population exceedind supply etc.

This has more to say about the developed socities than those in the third world.

In India they probly say silly people in the developed countries eating to much and have health issues due to eating to much :old:

You calling my girlfriend fat! lol.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: zack1234 on May 12, 2012, 07:04:26 AM
 :rofl
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: RTHolmes on May 12, 2012, 07:23:57 AM
After reading the article and being not too familiar with the "bean counters" lingo, I was a little confused as to what "expand the fiscal deficit" meant.

fiscal deficit same as budget deficit, ie. a state spends more than it collects in taxes.

if theres people starving it means that they cannot afford the grain even at the current low prices, which means that for them to have the grain, the state would have to buy it from the suppliers and then pay for its distribution.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Copprhed on May 12, 2012, 08:42:30 AM
Are there no prisons? Are the workhouses not in operation? If they'd rather not go there, then let them go ahead and die and further decrease the surplus population! The lack of compassion and humanity that some people show is beyond me.......
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: bj229r on May 12, 2012, 09:57:18 AM
Are there no prisons? Are the workhouses not in operation? If they'd rather not go there, then let them go ahead and die and further decrease the surplus population! The lack of compassion and humanity that some people show is beyond me.......
Kinison said it best..."SEND EM U-HAULS!"
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Rich52 on May 12, 2012, 12:07:15 PM
Quote
Are there no prisons? Are the workhouses not in operation? If they'd rather not go there, then let them go ahead and die and further decrease the surplus population!
Expect some visits on Xmas Eve.  :uhoh
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Klam on May 12, 2012, 04:19:25 PM
fiscal deficit same as budget deficit, ie. a state spends more than it collects in taxes.

if theres people starving it means that they cannot afford the grain even at the current low prices, which means that for them to have the grain, the state would have to buy it from the suppliers and then pay for its distribution.

Thanks for the respose and explanation.

Nuclear equiped India is well resourced and benefits from sustantial international aid of all kinds.  The worlds second largest pruducer of wheat is now in a foodstuff surlpus that it has ouitstripped storage.

If the government of a country in that "food healthy" condition.  Does not feed it's people, it appears to me as a suspect agenda.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: RTHolmes on May 12, 2012, 04:37:36 PM
like almost every country in the world, India has a huge and growing budget deficit, which they are trying to reduce. money used to subsidise distribution of this grain would have to come from somewhere else.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: CAP1 on May 12, 2012, 10:46:59 PM
i would honestly consider that to be criminal.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Tank-Ace on May 12, 2012, 11:45:27 PM
like almost every country in the world, India has a huge and growing budget deficit, which they are trying to reduce. money used to subsidise distribution of this grain would have to come from somewhere else.


By the way, where the hell is all that money going anywas?
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: TheAssi on May 12, 2012, 11:59:30 PM
See Rules #2, #4
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Rich52 on May 13, 2012, 09:20:46 AM
See Rule #14
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: rogwar on May 13, 2012, 10:27:33 AM
Think of all the potential Weissbier gone to waste.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Shamus on May 13, 2012, 10:51:11 AM
See Rule #2
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: CAP1 on May 13, 2012, 11:32:50 AM
like almost every country in the world, India has a huge and growing budget deficit, which they are trying to reduce. money used to subsidise distribution of this grain would have to come from somewhere else.

 there are people on their payroll.....ie...some of their military......that are being paid regardless of their money situation. some of those personnel could be re-tasked to distribute this stuff at no charge to the starving people in the country.
 
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: cpxxx on May 13, 2012, 01:21:40 PM
It's never black and white when it comes to food aid. Back in the eighties during the famous Live Aid period. Much of Ethiopia had plenty of food while other parts were starving. There are any number of examples. Surplus American grain for example, generously sent to Africa often has the effect of contributing to the problem. Cheap or free and plentiful grain depressed the local market so much that the local farmers cannot compete and they up on food aid themselves. Ironic really.

There's ads on TV from a charity looking for donations claiming they can end hunger. Well I remember 35 years ago taking part in a fast to raise money for the same charity. Back then they claimed they could end hunger. I no longer believe them.

That rotting wheat would do little in the larger scheme of things. Worse it could have the same effect as the one above.

If anyone has a solution for this intractable problem they're keeping it quiet.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: CAP1 on May 13, 2012, 01:39:14 PM
It's never black and white when it comes to food aid. Back in the eighties during the famous Live Aid period. Much of Ethiopia had plenty of food while other parts were starving. There are any number of examples. Surplus American grain for example, generously sent to Africa often has the effect of contributing to the problem. Cheap or free and plentiful grain depressed the local market so much that the local farmers cannot compete and they up on food aid themselves. Ironic really.

There's ads on TV from a charity looking for donations claiming they can end hunger. Well I remember 35 years ago taking part in a fast to raise money for the same charity. Back then they claimed they could end hunger. I no longer believe them.

That rotting wheat would do little in the larger scheme of things. Worse it could have the same effect as the one above.

If anyone has a solution for this intractable problem they're keeping it quiet.

 bolded.....well that right there was the problem. why in the world would our govt. send surplus food to another country, while not even attempting to do anything for those in need in our own country?
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on May 14, 2012, 10:34:48 AM
(http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3341/indianwheatrotting.jpg)

The following article was in todays London Metro newspaper.  A free give away paper that I normally pick up at the tube station on my way to work.

"Millions of tonnes of wheat are going to waste in India because there's nowhere to keep the grain dry.
After a bumper harvest, sacks full of the foodstuff are being left to rot - despite millions of the country's children starving.
Sharad Yadav, a key opposition leader. said it was a "Colossal waste of food".  He added that while people are dying of hunger, food grain is rotting in the open."

It has been a particularly good year for wheat crops in India but as a result, the country's storage space has run out.
Food minister KV Thomas said the government was taking "all necessary steps" to increase storage and working with the private sector to buy new warehouses.

About 42% of Indians under the age of five are malnourished.

Selling the grain at a subsidised price is not possible because it will expand the fiscal deficit, economists say."



After reading the article and being not too familiar with the "bean counters" lingo, I was a little confused as to what "expand the fiscal deficit" meant.
What I interpret from this phrase is that they are not going to allow someone to buy it at a subsidised rate and then risk the export of  it damaging the trade price of the good stuff.


The mind (mine anyway) boggles at the waste of a resource in this way :headscratch:

Whoa imagine the amount of rats there are there. India + food storage = bad news.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: VonMessa on May 14, 2012, 11:19:00 AM
Think of all the potential Weissbier gone to waste.

The thought crossed my mind, as well.
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: Klam on May 14, 2012, 12:02:49 PM
There are many businesses that buy up this kind of material and convert it into biomass fuels etc...
Title: Re: Wheat crop excess denied to the starving
Post by: zack1234 on May 14, 2012, 03:35:47 PM
Bob Geldof is not on the breadline :)