“備蓄びちく米まい買い戻かいもどし要件ようけん緩和かんわで価格かかく抑制よくせいを” 自民じみん 小野寺おのでら政調せいちょう会長かいちょう

Even though the government has released its stockpiled rice, rice prices remain high. In response to this, the Liberal Democratic Partys Policy Research Council Chairman, Mr. Onodera, indicated that he will urge the government to work on curbing prices by measures such as easing the requirements for buying back stockpiled rice.

Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman Onodera inspected a warehouse storing reserve rice in Saitama Prefecture on the 14th, and received an explanation from officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries about the status of the release of the reserve rice.

After this, Mr. Onodera told reporters, The reserve rice is being properly managed, and its quality is being sufficiently maintained at low temperatures.

After the long holiday, the daily shipment volume has doubled, so the sense of rice shortage should be considerably alleviated.

If high rice prices continue, people will move away from eating rice, and in the medium to long term, this wont be good for farmers either, he said.

And regarding the requirement to buy back the same amount of reserve rice sold by the government in principle within one year, he stated, The buyback clause will be abolished as a government policy, expressing hope that relaxing the requirements will promote the distribution of rice.

In addition, it was pointed out that while the government purchases reserve rice at around 12,000 yen per 60 kilograms, the auction prices are exceeding 20,000 yen, which is seen as a factor in keeping prices high. It was also indicated that they will urge the government to work on curbing prices.

Furthermore, it was announced that on the evening of the 14th, the partys Agriculture and Forestry Committee executives will hold a meeting to discuss measures to curb prices.