Latest news with #MAFF
Japan Forward
6 days ago
- Business
- Japan Forward
Only Extraordinary Measures for Rice Can Bring Prices Down
このページを 日本語 で読む Rice prices have soared to twice the level of a year ago. That has created a serious situation that continues across the nation. Given the need to respond to the crisis facing consumers, it is appropriate for the government to take extraordinary measures. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has announced a new bidding method that will be used for the release of government stockpiled rice into the market. MAFF has bypassed traditional competitive bidding in this case. Instead, it is selling directly to major supermarkets and other retailers through discretionary contracts. The aim is to have stockpiled rice on store shelves selling for about ¥2,000 JPY ($13.80 USD) per five-kilogram bag by early June. This marks a departure from the policy of Taku Eto, Koizumi's predecessor as agriculture minister. Eto rejected involvement in setting prices based on the principle of government non-intervention in the market. Stockpiled rice arrives at Iris Ohyama's rice milling plant on May 29. Deliveries to major retailers have begun and will be made available in stores from June 2nd (Watari Town, Miyagi Prefecture). Koizumi's recognition that soaring prices "might accelerate the shift away from domestically produced rice" is certainly valid. Although the impact on farmers struggling with rising production costs must be considered, restoring prices to an affordable level makes sense. Under the previous approach using preestablished contracts, the price could not be lowered even by releasing stockpiled rice. Next, the question is whether the government can deeply reflect on this point and implement a new system that resolves the problem without confusion. Dealing with the rice issue is the core of the measures the Ishiba administration must take to combat rising consumer prices. It should not be overlooked that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Minister Koizumi will bear a large share of the responsibility for its success or failure. Under the previous competitive bidding system, stockpiled rice was sold to the highest bidder. That made it difficult for retail prices to fall. Under the no-bid arrangement, the government can determine the price and other terms and then choose willing contract partners at its discretion. That should improve the prospects for easing prices. In addition to the introduction of discretionary contracts, under the new arrangement, buyers will also change from collection agents, such as the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, JA ZEN-NOH, to large retailers closer to the level of actual consumers. We would like to see the government select suitable vendors to ensure that stockpiled rice is distributed nationwide. Stickers are also affixed to stockpiled rice for clear identification at Iris Ohyama's rice milling plant. It will be available in stores from June 2. (May 29, Watari Town, Miyagi Prefecture) In order to quickly get the stockpiled rice to consumers, distribution, milling, and other necessary operations must also proceed smoothly. The government should provide detailed support to retailers, not limited to the costs of shipping goods to rural areas. The key will be whether or not the retail price of all rice, not just stockpiled rice, can be controlled. That would include brand-name rice. Prime Minister Ishiba intends to lower the average price for a five-kilogram bag, which is currently over ¥4,200 ($29), to the ¥3,000 ($20.50) range. However, wholesalers and other parties have stock that they acquired at high prices. Will their prices fall enough to reach Ishiba's target level? Consumers will not accept a two-tier structure with sharply different prices for stockpiled rice versus other products. Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
The Star
27-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Cambodia spots newborn rare Mekong dolphin, bringing total population to 111
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has welcomed seven newborn Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins so far this year, bringing the total population of the aquatic mammals to 111, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) said in a press release on Monday (May 26). The latest newborn dolphin calf, about two days old, was spotted on Sunday at the Kampi dolphin pool in Kratie province's Preaek Prasab district by a team of researchers from the Fisheries Administration and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). "This newborn dolphin was seen swimming alongside a pod of four adult dolphins," the press release said. "It is the seventh dolphin calf born in 2025." The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins have been listed since 2004 as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. In 2024, the South-East Asian country recorded a total of nine newborn dolphin calves, with four deaths, according to the news release. The MAFF estimates that to date, there are 111 Irrawaddy dolphins living along a 120-km main channel of the Mekong River in northeast Stung Treng and Kratie provinces. - Xinhua
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Eto resigns after remarks on rice
Farm minister Taku Eto has resigned after the remarks he made about rice triggered a firestorm of criticism from voters and lawmakers, posing a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's embattled government. 'I made an extremely inappropriate remark at a time when citizens are suffering from soaring rice prices,' Eto told reporters after handing in his resignation at the prime minister's office yesterday. Ishiba appointed former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi as his replacement at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), saying he was counting on his reform-minded stance to produce results. The doubling of rice prices from last year has become a top concern for Japanese voters, long accustomed to years of deflation and suffering from stubbornly low inflation-adjusted wages. The government has been releasing rice since March from its emergency stockpile to tame prices, but that has had little impact. Data on Monday showed retail prices rising again in the week through May 11 after falling for the first time in 18 weeks. That has increasingly led to retailers and consumers seeking out cheaper, foreign rice. 'MAFF covers a wide range of responsibilities but in my mind, what I need to focus on right now is simply rice. I'm going into this job with the mindset that I am essentially the 'minister in charge of rice',' said Koizumi. Having previously served as the head of the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) agriculture and forestry division, Koizumi said there would be no sacred cows in his efforts to lower rice prices, and that a strong political will would be needed to achieve those goals. Rice farmers are traditionally a strong support base for the long- governing LDP and Japan protects the rice market with hefty levies beyond the tariff-free 'minimum access' quota agreed under World Trade Organization rules. Eto's departure threatens Ishiba's already-shaky grip on power ahead of key upper house elections in July. His LDP and its junior coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in the more powerful lower house in a snap election Ishiba called in October shortly after taking office. Eto's resignation is the first from Ishiba's Cabinet excluding ministers who had lost their seats in those elections. — Reuters
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Japanese farm minister resigns following gaffe over rice
TOKYO - Japanese farm minister Taku Eto resigned on Wednesday after remarks he made about rice triggered a firestorm of criticism from voters and lawmakers, posing a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's embattled government. Eto has been in hot water since media reports exposed comments he made at a weekend political fundraising party that he had "never had to buy rice" thanks to gifts from supporters. The comment led to a frenzy of criticism from voters, already angry about the historically high price of the staple food due to a poor harvest and elevated demand from a boom in tourism. "I made an extremely inappropriate remark at a time when citizens are suffering from soaring rice prices," Eto told reporters after handing in his resignation at the prime minister's office. Ishiba appointed former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi as his replacement at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), saying he was counting on his reform-minded stance to produce results. "Mr Koizumi is someone who has experience, insights, and passion for reforms on agriculture and fisheries," Ishiba said. The doubling of rice prices from last year has become a top concern for Japanese voters, long accustomed to years of deflation and suffering from stubbornly low inflation-adjusted wages. The government has been releasing rice since March from its emergency stockpile to tame prices, but that has had little impact. Data on Monday showed supermarket rice prices rising again in the week through May 11, to 4,268 yen ($29.73) for a 5 kg bag, after falling for the first time in 18 weeks. The high prices have increasingly led to retailers and consumers seeking out cheaper, foreign rice. Ishiba said prices should be between 3,000 yen and 3,999 yen, and that for that to happen, it was necessary to reverse the government's policy for the last half-century of encouraging reduced production to keep prices steady. 'Minister of Rice' "What's on everyone's mind right now are the soaring rice prices and anxiety over whether there's enough of it in the market, and I want to dispel these concerns," said Koizumi, whose father Junichiro pushed through sweeping reforms and deregulation as prime minister in the 2000s. "(MAFF) covers a wide range of responsibilities but in my mind, what I need to focus on right now is simply rice. I'm going into this job with the mindset that I am essentially the 'minister in charge of rice'," he said. Koizumi, who previously served as the head of the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) agriculture and forestry division, said there would be no sacred cows in his efforts to lower rice prices, and that a strong political will would be needed to achieve those goals. Traditionally, rice farmers are a strong support base for the long-governing LDP, and Japan protects the rice market with hefty levies beyond the tariff-free "minimum access" quota agreed under World Trade Organization rules. Eto's departure threatens Ishiba's already-shaky grip on power ahead of key upper house elections in July. His LDP and its junior coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in the more powerful lower house in a snap election Ishiba called in October shortly after taking office. Many users on social media expressed disdain over the latest saga. "Reaffirmed the need for the LDP to be completely annihilated," one user wrote on X, sharing their belief that Koizumi would do no better than Eto. Eto's resignation is the first from Ishiba's cabinet not involving ministers who lost their seats in elections. "Minister Eto's resignation was inevitable from the moment the gaffe occurred," said Hiroshi Shiratori, a political science professor at Hosei University in Tokyo. "The decision to replace him only after five opposition parties had planned their no-confidence motion was too slow, exposing Prime Minister Ishiba's lack of leadership." A Kyodo News opinion poll on Sunday showed support for Ishiba at a record low 27.4%, with nearly nine out of 10 voters dissatisfied with the government's response to soaring rice prices. — Reuters
Business Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Japanese farm minister resigns following gaffe over rice
[TOKYO] Japanese farm minister Taku Eto resigned on Wednesday after remarks he made about rice triggered a firestorm of criticism from voters and lawmakers, posing a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's embattled government. Eto has been in hot water since media reports exposed comments he made at a weekend political fundraising party that he had 'never had to buy rice' thanks to gifts from supporters. The comment led to a frenzy of criticism from voters, already angry about the historically high price of the staple food due to a poor harvest and elevated demand from a boom in tourism. 'I made an extremely inappropriate remark at a time when citizens are suffering from soaring rice prices,' Eto told reporters after handing in his resignation at the prime minister's office. Ishiba appointed former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi as his replacement at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), saying he was counting on his reform-minded stance to produce results. 'Mr Koizumi is someone who has experience, insights, and passion for reforms on agriculture and fisheries,' Ishiba said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The doubling of rice prices from last year has become a top concern for Japanese voters, long accustomed to years of deflation and suffering from stubbornly low inflation-adjusted wages. The government has been releasing rice since March from its emergency stockpile to tame prices, but that has had little impact. Data on Monday showed supermarket rice prices rising again in the week through May 11, to 4,268 yen (S$38.28) for a 5 kg bag, after falling for the first time in 18 weeks. The high prices have increasingly led to retailers and consumers seeking out cheaper, foreign rice. Ishiba said prices should be between 3,000 yen and 3,999 yen, and that for that to happen, it was necessary to reverse the government's policy for the last half-century of encouraging reduced production to keep prices steady. 'What's on everyone's mind right now are the soaring rice prices and anxiety over whether there's enough of it in the market, and I want to dispel these concerns,' said Koizumi, whose father Junichiro pushed through sweeping reforms and deregulation as prime minister in the 2000s. '(MAFF) covers a wide range of responsibilities but in my mind, what I need to focus on right now is simply rice. I'm going into this job with the mindset that I am essentially the 'minister in charge of rice',' he said. Koizumi, who previously served as the head of the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) agriculture and forestry division, said there would be no sacred cows in his efforts to lower rice prices, and that a strong political will would be needed to achieve those goals. Traditionally, rice farmers are a strong support base for the long-governing LDP, and Japan protects the rice market with hefty levies beyond the tariff-free 'minimum access' quota agreed under World Trade Organization rules. Eto's departure threatens Ishiba's already-shaky grip on power ahead of key upper house elections in July. His LDP and its junior coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in the more powerful lower house in a snap election Ishiba called in October shortly after taking office. Many users on social media expressed disdain over the latest saga. 'Reaffirmed the need for the LDP to be completely annihilated,' one user wrote on X, sharing their belief that Koizumi would do no better than Eto. Eto's resignation is the first from Ishiba's cabinet not involving ministers who lost their seats in elections. 'Minister Eto's resignation was inevitable from the moment the gaffe occurred,' said Hiroshi Shiratori, a political science professor at Hosei University in Tokyo. 'The decision to replace him only after five opposition parties had planned their no-confidence motion was too slow, exposing Prime Minister Ishiba's lack of leadership.' A Kyodo News opinion poll on Sunday showed support for Ishiba at a record low 27.4 per cent, with nearly nine out of 10 voters dissatisfied with the government's response to soaring rice prices. REUTERS
