The Asia Pacific Food Price and Policy Monitor is a monthly report produced by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. It monitors food prices in local markets and provides readers with up-to-date food and agricultural policy developments across the Asia-Pacific region.
Food inflation continued to decline in the Asia Pacific region, registering the lowest level since 2005. In South Asia, inflation rates have been generally higher than other subregions, with both food and general inflation above 8 percent during the first half of 2013.
Southeast Asia’s rice price index recorded its steepest drop of 7.2 percent, continuing the downward trend that began in mid-2012 in inflation adjusted terms. The wheat price index for South Asia has been increasing since mid-2012, surging by an annualized rate of 15.9 percent in June in inflation adjusted terms. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, wheat prices continued to rise, and prices during June were substantially higher than one year ago.
June’s retail prices for grains were stable in China and India, while price trends in Myanmar were mixed. In Samoa, retail prices for root commodities weakened while prices for fruits strengthened in June.
India Government approved a 5 percent increase in the minimum support price for common paddy rice, and plans to release rice and wheat from its stockpiles to stabilize rising domestic prices.
Thailand’s National Rice Policy Committee reversed the decision announced early in June to cut the price it pays to farmers for rice by 20 percent in its pledging scheme.
