コメコメ価格かかく3さんか月かげつ見通みとおしの指数しすう上あげ幅はば最大さいだいに猛暑もうしょの影響えいきょう懸念けねんも

The August index, which shows the outlook for rice prices over the next three months based on a survey of rice market participants, recorded the largest increase since the survey began.

There is a growing view that the price of newly harvested rice will rise, as agricultural cooperatives are increasingly moving to raise the estimated payment that they provisionally pay to producers.

The Rice Stable Supply Support Organization conducts monthly surveys on rice prices, supply and demand outlooks, and other factors, targeting 180 producers and wholesalers nationwide. The higher the index, the stronger the perception that prices are high.

According to the results announced today for last month, the index indicating the current state of prices was 85, which is an increase of 8 points from the previous survey in July.

The 23-point increase in the outlook is the largest since this survey began in 2012.

The organization that conducted the survey believes that the background to this situation includes the fact that, across the country, there have been a series of moves by agricultural cooperatives to raise the estimated payment—an advance paid to producers—in order to secure new rice, as well as concerns being voiced about the impact of the intense heat and drought on the new rice crop.

This result indicates that there is a growing view among rice distribution stakeholders that the price of new rice will rise.

Hiratsuka City has the highest annual rice yield in the prefecture, and the harvest of the locally born Shonan brand rice Harumi is about to begin. However, according to the local JA, this summers record-breaking heat has affected the growth of the rice plants.

In the rice fields managed by local farmer Mitsuo Sato and others, some of the rice plants have not grown sufficiently, with some grains inside the husks being small or cloudy white, and in some cases, the inside of the husks is empty.

The rice ears affected in this way are not their usual golden color, but have changed and become whitish.

For healthy growth, it is necessary to keep the water in the rice fields as cool as possible during this period. However, this summer, there were many days when the water temperature in the fields rose to 40 degrees, and there was nothing that could be done.

Harumi is the first rice variety from Kanagawa Prefecture to receive the highest Special A rating, but Mr. Sato expects that the yield from the rice fields he manages will decrease by about 10% compared to usual this year, and he is also increasingly concerned about a decline in quality.

Mr. Sato said, Im worried that if the quality drops, the price will go down as well, which will affect my income.

I hope that a variety as delicious as Harumi but more resistant to heat will be developed, they said.