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But in times of need when you can't afford to buy it, just barter for it with something other people want.

Take Malaysia as an example.

Malaysia may consider swapping palm oil for rice with countries such as China, India and the United States in order to boost stockpiles. .

"Our country needs to buy rice and we have a commodity that most rice-exporting countries need, so it would be logical," Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Peter Chin said 

Malaysia, which needs to import 30 per cent of its annual rice consumption, is the world's largest producer of palm oil after neighbouring Indonesia.

Rice-importing nations are competing to lock in supplies after some producers, including Vietnam, curbed shipments, helping to drive the price to a record high last month. The country plans to import an additional 300,000 tonnes of rice to safeguard domestic supplies.

Chin said he would have to discuss the barter plan with Agriculture Minister Mustapa Mohamed, who is in charge of rice stockpiling. Rice futures jumped to a record of US$25.07 (Bt811) per 45.45 kilograms on the Chicago Board of Trade in April. The contract, which has more than doubled in the past year, traded at $20.715 yesterday.

In 2006, Thailand scrapped a plan to trade frozen chickens for fighter jets, and rice for trains, amid fears of corruption.

Chin also said that the Malaysian cabinet would decide "in a week or so" a new mechanism to keep cooking-oil prices low although the price of palm oil has surged.

The price-control mechanism may include a plan for the government to make adjustments on the levy that plantation companies have to pay to the government, he said.