will there be rice shortage next year

The survivors of Cyclone Nargis from Irrawaddy Delta are finding difficult to grow rice this raining season.

Heavy rain in many parts of the country have flooded the paddy fields.

Given the current sitution is there a risk of rice shortage in Burma next year?

What do you think the authorities should do to prevent it?

The followings reflect the balance of opinions received so far...

I am sure if the regime will not act right now about rice, there will be a lot shortage of the rice. The military regime should let the farmers grow wherever the farms that can grow the rice right now and ban the export companies strictly.
Min Khaing, USA

Of course, there will not be as plenty as previous years. Rice is important and is everyday meal to all Burmese people just as the westerners eat bread. It also one of the major import goods. I guess many farmers from the Irrawaddy region fleeing their natives to seek their fortune in the urban cities would make the impact in not only country economics but also more political crisis.
Paing Soe, Singapore

Certainly, there will be less rice available for consumption due to cyclone. The government should relax price and quantity restrictions on rice farmers. They should let farmers do what they want to do. Because restrictions could discourage farmers from growing rice and result in more rice shortages.
Bo Aung, Bangkok

Why cannot Burmese government support our farmers to become modern farming industry?   Tom Tun, Canada

Yes, there will be rice shortage next year and it has been for many decades since the regime took over the country. The question now is that are farmers ready to fight back the regime. Enough is enough. The government will not do anything to solve the problem because they do not care about people and the Nargis aftermath is the proof that how these generals are no so Buddhist as they always claim themselves as GOOD Buddhist.
Hlaing Than, U.S.A

There will be rice shortage in Burma partly due to cyclone Nagris and partly due to the inability of the government to handle the food and other economic crises. It is time for the government to listen to the farmers (I do not believe this will happen with this kind of regime) and help them financially.
Myo Myint, Singapore

It is very much possible of shortage of rice by later affects by Cyclone Nagis. As we, all know there is no national reserve program in Burma for emergencies. Beside, the dictator of Burma does not seem to care for creating modern agriculture system. For instance, rice is not seasonal crop. Rice can grow by supply water. Especially such as Irrawaddy delta full of rivers in the whole region should not be a problem for water supply. However, the neglect of the government put Burmese people in the worse position. Neighbour country such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos grow rice two crops a year. Why cannot Burmese government support our farmers to become modern farming industry?
Tom Tun, Canada

There is already rice shortage in the country. In Chin State, especially in Thantlang Township and Paletwa Township, there are many people without food. People are not allowed to transport rice because military is trying to keep as much as possible for their soldiers. It means there is rice shortage for the public next year the result of Cyclone Nargis that directly affects the whole Burma.
Zam Mang, USA