This proverb emphasizes the importance of highly valuable resources such as rice, especially in times of scarcity. The rice from the IBSIMITATATRA plains is a metaphor for a highly coveted wealth or resource. Whether one owns this wealth or not, everyone pays attention to it. It also highlights the reality that often, those who do not possess certain riches look at, envy, or hope to benefit from them in some way, even if they cannot claim ownership. The equivalent proverb in English could be: ‘Gold attracts everyone’s eyes, whether we own it or not.’