"The government in Pakistan is increasing the price it pays to farmers for wheat, which is a positive step if it leads to a rise in the income of small farmers instead of landlords. A crop insurance scheme for farmers is also planned, but whether it will succeed in reaching out to smaller and tenant farmers still also remains to be seen.

It is important that regulatory mechanisms be put in place to ensure not only fair pricing and undisturbed supply of food, but also for maintaining the food safety standards. Attention is also needed to improve existing relief systems to increase the efficiency of food distribution, cash transfers, and food-for-work programs. It is even possible to include an early warning system to signal impending threats to food security emanating from production shocks or instability in domestic or world markets."

"The use of e-money is inevitably going to expand in Indonesia. Consumers are turning to credit cards, debit cards and, more recently, e-money, with the latter providing many benefits to users, such as convenience, privacy, increased efficiency and possibly lower transaction fees than credit cards. In response to increasing demand for e-money products, Bank Indonesia launched an initiative to create a cashless society in 2006. The initiative aimed to promote the creation of a secure, efficient and reliable mechanism for the public.

Various outlets, such as convenient stores and road toll booths, will have to be on board to make e-money attractive to consumers. Jakarta now has an efficient bus system and several toll road corridors where an e-money system could be implemented. Without a doubt, this project needs an enormous amount of investment. Nonetheless, it would provide more benefits for both consumers and issuers, as long as it is more than just a card to be used at convenience stores."

"Most of PRC's rice stocks are in farmers' barns. How much can the government count on these stocks in an emergency depends on the work experience and effectiveness of local government officials. Have they checked farmers' rice stocks lately? No one knows. Those in charge of food policies now face many challenges. How will China manage to shut out overseas black marketers in its pledge to keep domestic prices stable -- given its abundant stocks.

If China does have abundant stocks, it should try to take advantage of the rising prices to export a little more. This would not harm anyone. As a major rice producer in the world, China always focuses on its own needs, and has never attempted to be a major exporter. But that does not mean it should always stay away from the market, even when it offers a good price. That China does not at present want to increase its rice exports may indicate that stocks in farmers' barns still do not generate a true sense of security for the central government."

"India is on a global hunt for new and reliable sources of oil and gas to fuel its rapidly growing economy and has experienced mixed results. It has suffered several defeats in its attempts to clinch oil and gas deals, often to Chinese companies, but its quest for energy security received a boost last week when it signed a deal allowing it to participate in a joint venture to drill oil and gas in Venezuela.

In Central Asia, the door was pried open for Indian companies to invest in projects in Turkmenistan. In the same period, New Delhi's wooing of Africa's oil-rich nations moved into top gear as it played host to the first India-Africa summit. If India hasn't had much success in clinching oil/gas deals in Central Asia in the past, it was partly because it lacked deep pockets. That appears to have now changed."

"Low electricity sale prices and high input material prices are leading to fears that investors will not inject money in power projects in Viet Nam, meaning that electricity could be lacking for 10 more years. The oil price has increased by 5-6 fold, while gas, coal and cement prices have also doubled. It is impossible to encourage investors to inject money in power plants as input material prices are all increasing, while sale prices remain low.

The electricity supply is now seriously tense. The capital's electricity consumption has been increasing by 15% per annum. Cutting power seems to be the only choice nowadays to deal with the electricity shortage. Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) does not want to purchase electricity from outside sources, as the more it buys from outside, the bigger losses it will suffer."

"The new law on maritime transportation services in Indonesia will make the shipping industry more attractive to investors and creditors by greatly increasing the cargo volume for national freighters and providing a stronger basis for shipping companies to use their ships as collateral for bank loans. As of last year, foreign freighters still carried almost 35 percent of the total domestic cargo of around 200 million tons due to the limited capacity of the national merchant fleet.

The national shipping companies' share of export cargo is even more negligible, estimated at a mere 10 percent, with the other 90 percent carried by foreign freighters. The Transportation Ministry estimates national liners and shipyards will need at least Rp 34 trillion to supply new freighters to meet the additional demand for freighter space."

"The cost of basic food staples has risen an average of 80 percent since 2005. Last week saw new records for corn and rice. Global grain reserves are at their lowest level in decades. A number of major grain-exporting nations -- including Argentina, Russia, China and Viet Nam -- have imposed restrictions on grain exports. Export restrictions may reduce domestic food inflation, but it threatens to produce food shortages.

Faced with climate change, rising fertilizer and fuel costs, growing water scarcity, and changing global diet, can farmers plow enough new farmland and raise agricultural productivity enough to feed 9 billion people by midcentury? People in China and other developing nations are demanding more animal protein, which puts increasing stress on grain production: It takes roughly seven pounds of grain to produce a pound of beef. Many countries are already experiencing severe water shortages, and climate change is expected to exacerbate the problem due to increased drought and reduced water runoff from glaciers."

"Viet Nam's oil refinery in the central province of Quang Ngai will begin operating in February 2009. The Dung Quat Oil Refinery is expected to reach its design capacity of producing 6.5 million tons of products per year by the end of the second quarter. The prices of fuels manufactured in Dung Quat will depend on world fuel prices, but refinery operations will help ensure energy security for Viet Nam.

It will also pave the way for other industries in the central region of Vietnam, including a steel refinery project and other industrial enterprises in the Dung Quat economic zone. The refinery will require the development of distribution networks for the refinery's products, including fuels and liquefied gas."

"Thailand is encouraging farmers to expand maize plantation in a bid to reduce imports and profit from high corn prices. The Agricultural Land Reform Office recently inked a contract-farming agreement with EM Agriculture to encourage farmers in five provinces to grow maize.

The move will directly support animal feed meal, as it accounts for 50-60 percent of the product. The new supply will also alleviate costs for feed-meal producers by stabilizing the price of maize. Farmers would also be encouraged to form community enterprises."

"Although the Indian government announced in December 2005 that Hansen's disease had been eliminated at the national level, statistics show that the problem is still widespread as 'elimination' is simply defined as less than 1 in 10,000 people having the disease. Today, India is home to over 50% of the people affected by Hansen's disease globally. The effects can be seen all over the country, especially in the more than 700 self-settled colonies inhabited by Hansen's disease patients around the country.

In Delhi, where many patients from around the country have fled for treatment, Hansen's disease has not even been eliminated yet. Many people who have been cured of the disease remain unable to return to their homes for fear of the continuing social stigma."

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