Editorial
Rice crisis
Advisor's frank admission
We find the comments of the finance advisor regarding the present crisis of rice as being the result of lack of proper coordination, a frank admission of the government's lack of planning. It is also a bit amusing.
We wonder why some advisors are found to be very free with explanations that appear to border on proffering excuses on matters gone awry, or making comments that appear to have been made without comprehending its implications.
In this instance what one finds strange is the statement of the said advisor that the unprecedented hike in price of rice, which has brought about untold misery to the poor and fixed income groups, was the result of mismatch between the supply and demand. We wonder why the obvious has to be restated if no corrective action was initiated immediately when the folly was identified.
However, there is an obvious question that we would like to ask. Pray tell us whose responsibility is it to ensure that all necessary coordination was made to implement government plans and policies, particularly when that had to do with something as important as ensuring smooth supply of food grains in the market.
Not only is there a lamentable lack of coordination there is also a lack of foresight and the ability to assess the situation in the correct perspective. Soon after Sidr had struck we were told by the finance advisor that the forthcoming harvest would allow us to tide over the crop loss and that there would be no crisis of food grains. But lo and behold! We now have to rein in a market that had gone completely beyond everybody's control. The government has decided to import a million tonnes of rice for now. One wishes that this decision had been taken sooner. The same situation had occurred in the case of fertilizer where, in spite of the relevant ministers' claims, we had to go for emergency import of the same.
Another possible reason for the price hike is not far to seek, which was the comment of another advisor that the government could do very little to arrest the escalation of price of rice.
To say the least there is little coordination amongst the ministries and the matter is compounded by untimely and injudicious comments by people in responsible places who must realise that whatever he or she says has implications for the country.
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