VOA常速英语2008年-Farmers Face Problems Despite Higher Food Price

By Brian Padden
Washington
24 April 2008
 

Farmers around the world would seem to benefit from rising food prices. But as VOA's Brian Padden reports, rising costs, limited natural resources and government restrictions¹ prevent many farmers from getting rich.

For Texas rice farmer Ray Stoesser, rising food prices are tempered by the increased costs of fuel, transportation and other supplies.  He says, "Fertilizer went up $80 a ton last week.  It seems like when we need it, everything goes up."

In Thailand, farmer Khun Ton expects to have a good year but he says he must limit the amount of land he uses to cultivate rice. "I have more land on the other side of the road,” Ton said. “But I can't farm it because there is no water."

In Ukraine, Mykola Borshchenko, says the government limits his ability to maximize food production and profit.  "We were forced to sell at lower prices at a time when prices for energy and fertilizer where rising," Borshchenko said.

The World Bank estimates that global food prices have risen 83 percent over the last three years and demand for food will rise 50 percent by 2030. The growing demand for bio- fuels adds to the costs.

Despite the problems that farmers face, Chicago grain trader and analyst² Vic Lespinasse says on a global scale, market forces will ultimately prevail. 

"I think the consensus³ is that prices are going to remain elevated for a long time to come, but farmers this year are going to do what they do every time prices are high and that is they are going to produce more grain and we are going to see a worldwide increase." That is, he says, as long as the weather cooperates. 

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？