Japan farm minister aims to make rice available in 2,000-yen range per 5 kg by early June
TOKYO -- Japan's newly appointed agriculture minister is aiming to make rice available in the "2,000-yen range" (around $14 to $21) per 5 kilograms at retail outlets like supermarkets by early June by having the government set prices for stockpiled rice and selling it to a wide range of businesses.
At a press conference after a May 23 Cabinet meeting, agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced plans to change the sale of government reserve rice from public auctions to negotiated contracts and start the process as early as the beginning of next week.
Additionally, Koizumi revealed a projection that production of the staple food rice crop in 2025 will reach 7.19 million metric tons, 400,000 tons more than the 2024 harvest. This is expected to be the largest production volume in the past five years and the largest increase since surveys began in 2004.
The minister expressed expectations that the perceived rice shortage will ease, stating, "Please understand that a lot of rice will also be available from the fall onward."
(Japanese original by Hajime Nakatsugawa, Business News Department)
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