In my primary school geography lessons, I remember learning about rice-harvesting, rubber-tapping and tin-mining. All were tedious work. So we knew rice did not grow in Singapore. The rice we ate was the result of toil and sweat by farmers in far-away land.
Our forefathers were a hardworking and thrifty lot. They saved every spare cent and ate every grain of rice. Whatever food that was left was put away for the next day.
Today, the scene is very different. In a restaurant or a food court, you see a lot of wastage of food, including rice.
The hike in the price of rice may not be a bad thing altogether. It reminds people not to waste food. I think the price will go up further.
In future there could be a severe shortage of rice. Rice-producing countries may have to keep the rice for their own people leaving very little or none for export. Rice will be scarce. Although Singapore may have a stockpile of rice for emergencies, that cannot last forever if there are no supplies. Singaporeans will have to include other staples in their meals.
If it were to reach a critical level, the Government would have to impose rice-rationing. I think it was done during the Japanese Occupation.
Meanwhile, don't waste food and at your next meal savour your rice, enjoy its texture, taste and fragrance.
4 comments:
It is a common sight to see customers telling the hawker .. not too much rice. Maybe in future no need to do that anymore.
Do you remember the Eat More Wheat campaign in Singapore? I think it was in the 1960s. The government encouraged the people to eat more noodles then. I remember the advertisement in which a chubby boy was shown slurping noodles.
This time round, wheat may not even be a cheaper alternative as its price has also gone up in tandem.
I only vaguely remember the campaign. But I can't recall the reason for it.
zI don't think it was the 60s, maybe the 80s.
Fr - The "Eat More Wheat" campaign was held in 1967. The following is a quote from a commentary titled "Welcome to Campaign Country" which was published in the 25th May 2003 edition of the Straits Times:
'In the face of an impending rice shortage in 1967, the official decree was "Eat More Wheat".'
Post a Comment