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Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Fujairah: Rice, which is a staple food in many countries, has reached a dramatic turn for the worse.
It was previously reported that rice in the UAE is expected to become more expensive in the next few weeks because of a ban on exports by India and Pakistan.
In a recent Gulf News poll, 61 per cent of respondents said they eat rice on a daily basis, a smaller 13 per cent said they eat rice three times a week and 12 per cent said twice a week. Nine per cent said they ate it twice a week and the remaining five per cent said they never eat it.
Due to the rising price of rice, some residents said they have resorted to alternatives such as chapattis and naan bread. But what other options are left to those who have grown accustomed to rice since childhood and refuse to make a change?
City Talk took to the streets and asked residents if the recent ban on imported Indian and Pakistani rice has had any affect on their rice consumption, if they were affected by the price hikes, and whether they considered changing their eating habits.
Vinu Kumar, sales executive, India, 39, said: "In a few weeks, the price of rice has almost doubled but even though it is expensive, I cannot change my eating habits because I eat rice for lunch and dinner everyday. Especially in Kerala, my home town, we eat rice all the time and have grown accustomed to it. My family and I are unable to change our eating habits."
Entrepreneur Sabiha Kathwala, India, 39, said: "I eat rice only a few times a month and am not greatly affected by the increase in prices, since my family and I mostly eat wheat products, such as chapattis. But other people who eat rice several times everyday will definitely be affected as well as those who have to focus on their day-to-day needs because they might not be able to afford it as often."
Beautician Mayat Dungo, 55, from the Philippines, eats Jasmine Rice from Thailand. "I eat rice everyday despite the increasing prices. Jasmine rice has increased from Dh17 to Dh30. It is almost impossible to stop eating rice in our culture. I hope the price does not increase more than this because it's too much for our budget. The price in less than a few months has doubled. That's a bit too much for us consumers."
Mohammad Najeeb, 40, from India, who works as an executive secretary, said: "I eat rice everyday. It used to cost Dh10.50 and now it costs Dh15, and I am sure that the price will keep rising in near future. I have considered changing my eating habits and lessening my rice consumption. I will probably start to revert to naan or Arabic bread instead of rice. I may even try the rice from Thailand if it is not too expensive. I think that it could be a temporary solution till prices are moderate again, if ever."
Abdul Rahman, 23, a Syrian construction engineer, said: "I eat rice on a daily basis and mostly buy Egyptian rice. I know about the ban of Indian and Pakistani rice and definitely feel that prices in general, not just rice, have increased by five per cent and it has become a problem. I don't think I will change my eating habits, but I will minimise my consumption of rice if prices keep rising."
Faisal Ahmad, store in-charge, India, 26, said: "As a bachelor, I don't cook much at home so any price increase or shortage in rice supply does not affect me at the moment. I try and get by at the moment by eating out, but if prices keep going up then eventually it will affect restaurant prices and I will have to stop eating rice as much as I do now."
Filipina secretary Joy Regio, 24, said: "I grew up with rice as a staple diet and no matter what happens I cannot stop eating it. For me, rice is a central source of energy for my body and I cannot do without it. I may look at different rice varieties, but in the end there is no alternative food which could replace it, so if I have to pay more then I have no option."
Zulfar Qar, an Indian businessman, 47, said: "It is difficult to keep up with the rate of inflation because prices for everything is increasing, not only rice. I do not eat rice that often but the price hikes has certainly made me look for alternatives to rice dishes, such as noodles. The high price of rice affects biryani dishes, which may be a problem as it is a very popular dish to serve when receiving guests for dinner."
Ahmad Abdul Qadir, an IT technician from Sudan, 27, said: "I think that price hike and the shortages will hit people according to their eating habits more than fundamentally change them.
"If people are dependent on rice as a staple diet then they will sacrifice other types of food to sustain their main dish. If rice is not of great importance then people will turn to other alternatives."
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