令りょう和わ3年産ねんさんの備蓄びちく米まい 受け付うけつけ開始かいし “1時間じかんで約やく30社しゃから申請しんせい”

Regarding the sale of reserve rice through negotiated contracts, applications for approximately 120,000 tons from the 2021 harvest began to be accepted on the 11th.

The focus will be on whether this additional release will allow the stockpiled rice to be distributed widely and stably.

This time, about 120,000 tons of reserve rice from the 2021 harvest will be released, consisting of 100,000 tons newly added and about 20,000 tons that remained unsold in previous releases.

Applications began being accepted from 10 a.m. on the 11th.

Applications are now open not only to small and medium-sized retailers handling between 1,000 and 10,000 tons per year, but also to large retailers handling over 10,000 tons per year, whose applications had been suspended, as well as rice retailers with rice milling facilities.

When applying, the condition is that the products must be sold to consumers by August, and there is no upper limit on the amount that can be applied for.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries plans to release 100,000 tons from the 2020 crop after applications for the 2021 crop reach the planned amount.

Major supermarkets and convenience stores have indicated that, for now, they want to focus on selling the stockpiled rice they have already purchased, and some are taking a cautious stance toward making additional purchases at this time.

On the other hand, since there are still regions where the stockpiled rice from negotiated contracts has not yet started to be sold in stores, the key point will be whether this additional release can ensure wide and stable distribution.

Agriculture Minister Koizumi: About 30 companies have applied; there is demand. On the morning of the 11th, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koizumi told reporters that about 30 companies had applied within an hour of the application process starting. He stated, The fact that so many applications came in within just one hour shows there is demand. I’m glad that by deciding on this additional release, we were able to create an environment where we can respond to businesses who need it now.

On top of that, regarding the timing of additional releases, We will continue to provide them smoothly and without interruption wherever shortages occur in the market.

I thought that the best way to firmly curb the price surge would be to make the decision to release it now, and since it takes a little time from accepting applications to actually having the product on store shelves, I felt this was the right timing, he said.