On Sept. 13, Habibie's food minister admitted that 17.1 million families, nearly 70 million people, are now facing severe food shortages. It isn't that food is unavailable. It is just unaffordable. Several problems are afflicting the rice supply. Local harvests have been lousy.
Farmers are short of fertilizer and pesticide, which are essential but imported products.
Pests have struck at the crops. And since farmers are loath to accept the low prices offered by the government, less grain actually makes it to market than is available.