[Reiwa rice turmoil] New rice has arrived and there are “signs of improvement” in the shortage situation， but prices remain soaring farmers demonstrate in Tokyo， saying， “We want the government to implement a proper policy for staple foods．”
*Published on 9/10 (Tue) 19:30 MBS News Rice shortages are becoming a serious problem across the country. Farmers are appealing to the government. At around 12:30 p.m. on September 10th, approximately 200 farmers from across the country gathered in front of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Tokyo, chanting slogans such as “Protect rice.” They want the government to stabilize rice prices and production volumes in order to ensure a stable supply of rice, their staple food. (A rice farmer from Kyoto) “Farmers shipped out their rice last fall, so even if last year’s rice price went up, they won’t benefit. We want the government to revive the food control system, which allows producers to cover production costs and provides cheap rice to consumers at a price that allows them to do so.” The rice shortage has been ongoing since August. On September 10th, rice was seen piled up at a supermarket in Osaka city. (Customer) “What a relief. (Having rice) makes you feel richer.” Compared to August, the amount of rice arriving has increased due to the arrival of new rice, and the situation is gradually improving, but the price is still rising. (Customer) “(Q: What do you think of the price?) It’s expensive…” (Fresh Market Aoi President Uchida Toshihito) “Last year, a 5kg bag would have sold for around 1700-1800 yen excluding tax, but now it’s 3300 yen, and we’re in a situation where we can’t sell it unless we put the price at around that.” When asked about his outlook for the future… Continued below.
>>1 Since they’ve already consumed the demand for new rice, there will probably be a serious rice shortage from next spring onwards It looks like they’re already planning to import California rice on an emergency basis.
The National Federation of Farmers’ Movements held a demonstration in Tokyo. In September, a lot of new rice was shipped to alleviate the rice shortage, but this is just shipping rice that would have been eaten in the future, and it is said that there is a possibility that a rice shortage will occur again next summer. (Chairman of the National Federation of Farmers’ Movements, Toshiro Tanigawa) “I think the biggest reason is that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ food management policy is fundamentally flawed, and they are unable to respond swiftly and do nothing. I want the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to come up with a proper policy on staple foods.”
It’s impossible to do farming in Tokyo, so they come all the way from regional cities to protest. They must be bored. Aren’t they busy harvesting right now? Are these guys really farmers?
If subsidies are cut, prices will go up and farmers will leave the industry.
For food security, there’s no choice but to maintain the situation. The fact that people rush to stockpile food at home even if distribution is slightly disrupted may also be due to political instability. The Japanese are panicking too much.
>>21 I guess the rice wholesalers are making more money. In particular, the rise in rice prices in fiscal 2023 has mostly gone towards profits for rice wholesalers.
0022Anonymous donburako rolling around.Sep. 12, 2024 (Thu) 10:10:10.72ID:jhncj1Cz0(1/3)
This is the price they’ve paid for making fun of farmers and buying rice at low prices lol Be prepared for the prices to continue to rise.
Japan’s rice farming is now on the verge of collapse. Since 1995, when the Food Control Law was abolished under pressure from the United States, the price of rice for producers has been so low that farmers are moving away from rice farming. As farmers are moving away from rice, there is no rice shortage at the moment, but the food self-sufficiency rate is dire. If food imports were to stop, Japan would only be able to feed about 30 million people. And in another 10 years, the number of people working in agriculture will be halved and there will be no unprofitable rice farmers left.
>>33 Japan’s production-based self-sufficiency rate is not low Stop believing in a retarded indicator like calorie-based self-sufficiency rate Japan and Korea are the only two countries that keep such statistics, so there’s no way to compare whether a self-sufficiency rate is high or low.
Starting this week, the variety of produce delivered by Co-op has decreased and become more expensive. Until last week, it was about 1,900 yen for 5 kg.
Strange policies have caused confusion and prices have skyrocketed, so people are really going to stop buying rice. No wonder rice farmers are starting to make a fuss. So, both consumers and rice farmers are in a bad situation. Thanks LDP lol.
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