David Rai: A Farmer’s View on Food Shortage

By kamla bhatt • May 2nd, 2008
Category: Diaspora, Featured, Life
 
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Higher food prices, global shortage of food, rationing of rice in the USA. The global food crisis dubbed as the silent tsunami has dominated headlines since the start of the year.

What is driving this food shortage that some analysts have pointed is the creation of a perfect storm stemming from famine, demand for biofuels, increase in demand for food from countries like India and China among other things.

I went up to Yuba City in Sutter County, California, to meet with Lal David Rai, a farmer. Tune it to find out what David has to say about the global food shortage, especially the perceived shortage of rice in the USA. What is driving this shortage of rice in the USA?

I also asked David about global warming and if there is any impact on his farming practice in Yuba City. It seems like there just might be a connection since David has observed a certain change in the length of the seasons.

David is a second generation farmer of Mexican-Punjabi-Indian origin. David’s grandfather migrated from Punjab to the USA as did his father, Bishen Rai. His father married Mary Rai, a first generation Punjabi-Mexican.

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3 Responses »

  1. Global Voices Online » India, USA: Is there really a food crisis? on May 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm:

    […] a podcast interview Kamla Bhatt talks with Lal David Rai, a second generation farmer of Mexican-Punjabi-Indian origin on the […]

  2. Daniel on May 8th, 2008 at 6:29 pm:

    where is Yuba City in Sutter County? What state?

  3. kamla bhatt on May 9th, 2008 at 1:48 am:

    Daniel:

    Yuba City is in Sutter Couty in California. It is about a 30 minute drive from David and less than an hour’s drive from Sacramento.

    Thanks for asking that question.

    Cheers!

    Kamla

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