Yes, there is a connection. Because of adverse weather the rice harvest is way less than usual causing the price of rice to rise by 74% this year.  You don’t need me to tell you the international implications.  The situation reminds me of a crisis point in Irish history. That is the potato famine in the 18th Century.  The cause was excess rain exacerbating potato blight. Then, there was somewhere to go for a new life.  What do we do with billions of starving Asians?

Next I pick up a special offer flier from a local supermarket.  On the front page Basmati rice was one of the loss leading special offers!