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CBRM surplus spending includes big-ticket items, infrastructure and anniversary parties
CBRM surplus spending includes big-ticket items, infrastructure and anniversary parties

CBC

time14 hours ago

  • Business
  • CBC

CBRM surplus spending includes big-ticket items, infrastructure and anniversary parties

Cape Breton Regional Municipality ended its last fiscal year with a big surplus and council has decided to spend about two-thirds of it on some big-ticket items, infrastructure repairs and multiple celebrations of CBRM's 30th anniversary. During a special meeting Tuesday, council was told the surplus as of March 31 was $4.1 million. Councillors agreed to put $1.4 million into reserve accounts for the future and made plans to spend the rest on a wide range of items. Mayor Cecil Clarke said putting $500,000 into the Cape Breton Exhibition building, another $500,000 into roads and sidewalks, $100,000 into each of three community rinks in Sydney Mines, Whitney Pier and Dominion and $100,000 for the Louisbourg Playhouse, will all help ease next year's budget. "It'll help take the pressure off, because it's going to help with some of the backlog of things that we would have, as we say, with some buildings and some of the needed work," he said. Council also used a portion of the surplus to fulfil a promise to Cape Breton University after its request earlier this year for a $400,000 contribution to CBU's capital building campaign. CBRM is also allocating $332,000 for at least 10 community non-profits and $150,000 for a new command vehicle for Cape Breton Search and Rescue. This year is the 30th anniversary since CBRM was created by amalgamating the former city of Sydney with several former towns and the County of Cape Breton. Council has set aside $500,000 for celebrations that will include local events in each of the 12 districts, three "signature community events" in the North, Central and East divisions, $50,000 to recognize citizens and local organizations and $240,000 for a big New Year's Eve bash. The 25th anniversary could not be celebrated publicly due to the pandemic, which Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald called "unfortunate." "But for those who might not have been around, the previous one was probably one of the most remarkable events that I've gotten feedback from the community." CBRM hosted a New Year's Eve event in 2015 that included a ferris wheel, toboggan slide and entertainment on the downtown waterfront. "That 20th celebration was talked about for a long time," MacDonald said. The surplus was a result of $3.1 million in federal-provincial disaster assistance following last winter's massive snowfall, plus extra revenues from last year's World Women's Curling event and unexpected wastewater fees. Not all councillors were in favour of the full list of surplus spending, however. Councillors Steve Parsons and Kim Sheppard-Campbell voted against the plan, saying they were not opposed to many of the items, but they objected to them all being lumped into one motion for one vote. "I may not support all of the expenditures. There may be two or three that I have some questions about and to be honest with you, maybe two or three that I won't support," Parsons said. "But if I have to vote in a block, the perception for my residents will be that I voted in favour of everything, when I'm not." Both he and Sheppard-Campbell said they had concerns about giving $400,000 to Cape Breton University for its buildings. Parsons said CBRM recently sent a letter to the province saying it was cash-strapped and couldn't afford to take down all of the derelict houses and commercial buildings in the area. He said the contribution to CBU could have been spread over several years, freeing up some extra money for the backlog of derelict properties. Sheppard-Campbell said she would rather see CBU spend the money on bursaries. However, Coun. Gordon MacDonald said he had no problem with the contribution to CBU. He said the university's huge influx of students had sparked economic development in CBRM and helping the university is "money well spent."

Japan faces rice shortage as South Korea battles oversupply
Japan faces rice shortage as South Korea battles oversupply

CNA

time21-07-2025

  • Business
  • CNA

Japan faces rice shortage as South Korea battles oversupply

HAENAM, South Korea / TOKYO: Japan is grappling with rice shortages and price hikes, forcing it to ramp up imports. Just across the sea, South Korea is facing the opposite problem — an overwhelming surplus that has driven prices so low, some regions are practically giving rice away. As shortages and surpluses hit wallets and livelihoods, the instability of rice supply could have an impact far beyond the dining table, said observers. TACKLING OVERSUPPLY Farmer Park Geun Sik spent his life working the land in Haenam, a farming town in South Jeolla province, about 330km south of Seoul. When he started, everything from planting seedlings to threshing rice was done by hand. Rice was so scarce that there were designated no-rice days banning its sale. Then, machines arrived and high-yield rice varieties were introduced as South Korea embarked on a drive for self-sufficiency. Like most farmers in South Korea, Park is a member of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation Nonghyup. Nonghyup buys rice directly from farmers, then handles everything from drying and storing it to packaging and distribution. 'There is never a year when we can't sell the harvested rice,' Park told CNA. 'Most co-op members find it more convenient that way.' Every year, the South Korean government imports and also purchases rice from farmers to ensure food security. It also buys 'quarantine rice', which is the supply it wants to take off the market in order to stabilise prices. The government purchased 1.2 million tonnes of rice from 2021 to 2024, according to official data. This amounts to about US$1.9 billion worth of rice sitting in government storage. Haenam County Office said the government stores about 17 to 18 per cent of annual rice consumption in case of disaster or war. That is around 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes. Kim Ung Il, an officer with the office's distribution support division, said older reserves are usually sold to manufacturers of processed food, and recent harvests to low-income families, for as little as US$2 for a 10kg pack. For rice released for retail, the price fluctuates based on factors such as harvest yields. Korean farmers frustrated by thinning margins have taken to the streets to demand change. Gu Gwang Seok, executive director of the non-profit Korean Peasants League (Gwangju), said rice prices have barely risen in the 30 years he has been farming, blaming imports for pushing down prices. 'Every year, we import about 13 per cent of our domestic rice production. In terms of volume, that's around 408,000 tonnes (required under World Trade Organization agreements),' he added. 'That is why farmers are protesting. They are demanding that the government guarantee the price of rice and stop importing it.' Meanwhile, the door to exporting rice has never really opened. Most countries do not favour the short-grain, sticky Japonica rice South Korea produces except Japan. DEALING WITH SHORTAGE In April, Japan bought Korean rice for the first time since 1999 when it was facing a rice shortage. Rural Japanese families traditionally get their rice at negotiated prices from a local dealer or directly from farmers. At supermarkets across Japan, rice is selling at record prices or simply out of stock. Rice prices doubled from a year ago in May this year. In July, it's about US$27 on average for a 5kg pack, prompting the government to release emergency reserves. But the sales are massively depleting stockpiles, with only about 100,000 tonnes of rice left. Japan imports 770,000 tonnes of rice a year under WTO rules. Anything more brought in by the private sector incurs hefty tariffs of about US$2.30 per kilogram. But as domestic rice prices soar, private sector imports are rising. In May, they amounted to some 10,600 tonnes - mostly from the United States - up from just 115 tonnes a year ago. Kazuyoshi Fujimoto owns a 15-hectare rice farm in Kakogawa city - passed down for generations - but began shifting away from growing rice two years ago due to high costs. 'To tend to paddy fields, you need to invest in machinery,' he said. 'If it malfunctions, it costs 5 million to 6 million yen (US$33,700 to US$40,400) to replace it. So eventually, I plan to move entirely from paddy fields to growing figs.' Japan began paying farmers to reduce rice acreage in the 1970s to tackle overproduction and keep rice prices high. Now, production targets are still set by the government and influenced by Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) which nearly all farmers belong to. Around 70 per cent of crops harvested are sold through JA, according to experts, and the rest to wholesalers, retailers or straight to consumers. It sent Fujimoto a flyer offering to buy his rice for at least 11,500 yen (US$77.50) for every 30kg this year, which is about twice as much as last year. 'Until three years ago, prices (paid by JA) were stable,' said Fujimoto. 'But in the past year or two, prices rose a little, by 30 per cent. Then this year, it was a big hike." Rice production has tumbled over the years, from a peak of 14.45 million tonnes in 1967 to less than 7 million tonnes last year. Farmers told CNA they were puzzled by the sudden severe shortage, with some pointing to the complexity of the supply chain. In Nagano, known for its mountainous terrain and high-quality rice, some farmers said middlemen are paying three times more for their rice compared to last year. Poor harvests caused by heatwaves and a spike in inbound tourism are being cited as factors for the shortage. Japan's farming population, too, is steadily shrinking. Analysts said it is critical to stop reducing rice acreage and consolidate small-scale farms by encouraging their owners - who are mostly elderly - to lease their land to larger operations. 'Full-time farmers will be richer by accumulating more land. They could improve the efficiency of rice production,' said Kazuhito Yamashita, research director at the think tank Canon Institute for Global Studies. 'But it is not easy to implement in Japanese politics because we have to face politically powerful agricultural cooperatives.' LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES Meanwhile, South Korea's growers are watching closely. In Haenam, conditions are ripe to adapt rice fields for other crops. Farmers like Kim Jun Hyeong get government incentives to switch from rice to beans. 'In the case of rice farming, you usually have to grow the seedlings for about 20 days before transplanting. But when there is no need for that process (such as when growing beans), it becomes more advantageous,' he said. 'For beans, they go for about 4,000 to 4,500 won (US$2.90 to US$3.30) per kilogram,' he added. 'Rice, on the other hand, doesn't even fetch 2,000 won per kilogram." Kim now sets aside half his farmland for beans. His income has almost doubled, propelled by the incentives. In cities like Seoul, rice is finding a second life. Rike Bakery, which opened a few months ago, sets itself apart by using rice flour — a pricier alternative to wheat flour — as its key ingredient. The government is also promoting it as a substitute to raise rice consumption. 'I think rice has a better image than wheat,' said Jeon Hee Ju, owner of Rike Bakery. 'So when customers hear it's made from rice, they feel it's healthier and more comforting to eat.'

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