Japan plans to boost rice production
Following the continued rise in rice prices for over a year, the Japanese government has decided to change course and increase production of this grain. However, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba must convince his opponents, who fear that such a move will cause prices to fall, according to the country's press.
In the history of Japanese agriculture, this is a decision that will mark a before and after. After the continuous rise in the price of rice for more than a year, a situation that cost the ruling LDP party dearly during the last senatorial elections , Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on August 5 that the government would review its agricultural policy in 2027 in favor of increasing rice production, reports the Japanese channel NHK .
At a ministerial meeting held the same day, the head of government apologized for the inflated price of white rice. Acknowledging that the Ministry of Agriculture's market analysis was inadequate, Ishiba admitted that the timing and method of releasing government rice reserves "were not appropriate," the Japanese broadcaster reported.
It must be said that the country's policy until now has been to restrict rice production in order to prevent prices from falling too much. However, for the head of government, the time has come to change course:
“During the agricultural policy review planned for 2027 […], we will put in place measures to encourage rice farmers […] to produce more.”
His idea
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