Japan panel to probe cause of soaring rice price
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has launched a ministerial task force to address rising rice prices. The panel will investigate supply system issues and explore long-term solutions like improving efficiency, boosting exports, and adjusting production. Agriculture Minister Koizumi supports the move, following recent efforts to stabilize prices by selling reserve rice. The task force holds its first meeting Thursday.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has assembled a top-level task force to investigate the ongoing rice crisis. He is calling for long-term solutions that bring down the price of the country’s staple grain.
Prime Minister Ishiba is heading the ministerial panel. It will hold its first meeting on Thursday.
The panel will investigate what caused the price surge and how the government has handled the situation. Its ultimate goal is to fix problems in the supply system.
This is the government’s latest attempt to stabilize rice prices.
Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro last week began selling stockpiled rice through no-bid contracts, a first in the country.
Ishiba said earlier that the government needs to ensure a continuous supply of the grain.
“It is necessary to provide rice at a price that will reassure consumers,” he said. “For that to happen, sustainable production needs to be achieved through improving efficiency.”
Agriculture Minister Koizumi also stressed the need to get to the root of the problem.
“I think it is important at the ministerial meeting to thoroughly examine why this latest surge in rice prices happened,” he said.
Ministers will focus on mid- to long-term policies. Possible topics include increasing exports, production adjustments and subsidies for farmers.
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Source : NHK World Japan
