Editorial: Japan needs strategy for stable rice supply as it shifts to boost production
The government aims to enhance productivity through production scale expansion and digitalization, while also boosting exports.
This shift is driven by the rice shortage and soaring prices experienced since last year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries analyzed the causes and reportedly found that consumption expanded beyond expectations, in part due to demand from inbound visitors, while the intense summer heat led to a decline in crop quality, resulting in insufficient supply. The previous explanation, which blamed "distribution bottlenecks" as the main cause, was incorrect.
The government had passively accepted the assumption that consumption would continue to decline and failed to adequately grasp the realities of production and distribution. The failure of the "de facto acreage reduction policy," which aimed to curb production according to demand forecasts, is evident. The agriculture ministry and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) bear grave responsibility for this.
However, simply issuing directives will not improve the situation. Due to the aging population, there have been concerns about a shortage of farming successors, while the risk of a decline in crop quality due to climate change is becoming apparent. It is time to support motivated producers and strengthen the foundations.
On the other hand, overproduction could lead to a price nosedive, putting pressure on the management of farmers. It would be practical to review production adjustments in steps.
Support measures for producers to prepare for rice price falls are also essential. The LDP proposes expanding income insurance to partially compensate for sales declines, while the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People suggest subsidies for farmers based on cultivated area.
One question is whether support should be concentrated on large-scale farmers, or be distributed more broadly? The issues are diverse and will influence the future of Japanese agriculture. Detailed discussion in the Diet is necessary.
There must be greater freedom in farm management. Options can include expanding production scale or broadening sales channels by promoting improved taste and organic cultivation.
The government should support this by improving the accuracy of production-related statistics and strengthening policies to promote farmland consolidation. Local governments and agricultural organizations should collaborate to devise strategies to bolster regional agriculture.
The market's role is also crucial. Expanding trading in anticipation of future prices would make it easier for farmers to work out an outlook.
Rice, a self-sufficient crop in Japan, is a cornerstone of food security. Drawing lessons from the rice crisis of the current Reiwa era (2019-), visions for securing farming successors and maintaining cultivated land must be painted.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
an hour ago
- The Mainichi
Senegal president hopes for Japanese support for Africa's digital growth
DAKAR (Kyodo) -- The president of Senegal has expressed hope for Japanese support for boosting technological and digital development in Africa to help grow the continent's economy. In a recent interview ahead of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Japan, Diomaye Faye said that he believes taking advantage of Japan's edge in the field will lead to providing "transformative solutions for African economies." The remarks by Faye, who became the youngest president in Senegal's history in April last year at the age of 44, come ahead of the start of the TICAD conference on Wednesday in Yokohama near Tokyo. Faye is hoping to tap into the region's large young population for the development of human resources. This year's TICAD conference will tackle issues such as empowerment of youth and women. Faye described the gathering as a "great opportunity to strengthen and diversify cooperation between Africa and Japan." While stressing the importance of TICAD as a forum for multilateral cooperation, he said he is concerned that "multilateralism is taking a significant step backward," in an apparent reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy. Faye called on Japan, Africa and partners around the world "to strengthen this multilateralism" and make it "fairer." Faye won last year's presidential election as an opposition candidate, marking the third democratic regime change in the country after 2000 and 2012. In recent years, West Africa has experienced military coups, prompting the French military to withdraw from the area. Although Senegal has never experienced a coup since its independence from France in 1960, it has requested French troops to leave, ending their permanent deployment in July.
Kyodo News
2 hours ago
- Kyodo News
LDP to gauge lawmakers' support on whether PM Ishiba should be replaced
TOKYO - Japan's ruling party plans to gauge the support of its members in writing on whether it should hold an earlier than scheduled leadership race, a party lawmaker said Tuesday, as incumbent Shigeru Ishiba faces calls to step down following poor showings in recent elections. The Liberal Democratic Party's election panel met to discuss the details of how a presidential election could be called in the middle of an incumbent's term. It has never held such a race based on existing party rules, but Ishiba's defiance to stay on as Japanese leader has led the party to consider the option. "It's an issue that should be dealt with speedily", Ichiro Aizawa, who heads the election panel, told reporters after the meeting. A party leadership election can be held if the move is supported by the majority, or 172, of lawmakers and local chapter executives, according to the party's rules. Ishiba, who became LDP president and prime minister last year, can also run. The LDP decided in early August that its election panel could go ahead with the process of checking whether its members support the idea of holding an earlier-than-scheduled presidential race. Ishiba, whose current three-year term ends in September 2027, has been seeking to deflect mounting pressure from fellow LDP lawmakers and local chapters demanding that he resign, after the ruling coalition lost its majority in the House of Councillors in the July 20 election. With the coalition already a minority in the more powerful House of Representatives, this means that support from the opposition camp is required to pass any bills and budgets. The timing for the LDP to start soliciting views on a presidential election will hinge on its ongoing internal probe into why it suffered its worst upper house election loss in years. Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama, the LDP's No. 2, has said the review will be completed by the end of August.
The Mainichi
3 hours ago
- The Mainichi
LDP to gauge lawmakers' support on whether PM Ishiba should be replaced
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's ruling party plans to gauge the support of its members in writing on whether it should hold an earlier than scheduled leadership race, a party lawmaker said Tuesday, as incumbent Shigeru Ishiba faces calls to step down following poor showings in recent elections. The Liberal Democratic Party's election panel met to discuss the details of how a presidential election could be called in the middle of an incumbent's term. It has never held such a race based on existing party rules, but Ishiba's defiance to stay on as Japanese leader has led the party to consider the option. "It's an issue that should be dealt with speedily", Ichiro Aizawa, who heads the election panel, told reporters after the meeting. A party leadership election can be held if the move is supported by the majority, or 172, of lawmakers and local chapter executives, according to the party's rules. Ishiba, who became LDP president and prime minister last year, can also run. The LDP decided in early August that its election panel could go ahead with the process of checking whether its members support the idea of holding an earlier-than-scheduled presidential race. Ishiba, whose current three-year term ends in September 2027, has been seeking to deflect mounting pressure from fellow LDP lawmakers and local chapters demanding that he resign, after the ruling coalition lost its majority in the House of Councillors in the July 20 election. With the coalition already a minority in the more powerful House of Representatives, this means that support from the opposition camp is required to pass any bills and budgets. The timing for the LDP to start soliciting views on a presidential election will hinge on its ongoing internal probe into why it suffered its worst upper house election loss in years. Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama, the LDP's No. 2, has said the review will be completed by the end of August.
