政府せいふ 備蓄びちく米まい買い戻かいもどす期限きげん 「原則げんそく5年ねん以内いない」に延長えんちょうの方針ほうしん

In response to concerns that stockpiled rice is not being adequately distributed, the government has decided to extend the deadline for repurchasing the same amount from the vendors it sold to, from the current in principle, within one year to in principle, within five years.

There are aims such as easing the concerns traders have about buybacks and making it easier for reserve rice to be distributed.

Currently, regarding stockpiled rice, the government is supposed to buy back the same amount from the vendors it sold to within one year in principle. However, it has been pointed out that vendors are hesitant to participate in bidding for stockpiled rice because they are worried about whether they will be able to secure the rice for buyback.

Also, there are concerns that if the government buys it back within a year, the amount of rice distributed this year may decrease.

Based on these circumstances, the government has decided to extend the buyback period from the current in principle, within one year to in principle, within five years, and has also decided not to include rice harvested this year as eligible for buyback.

The aim is to ease the concerns traders have about buybacks and encourage smoother distribution of stockpiled rice, while also alleviating fears of future rice shortages and contributing to price stability.

In addition, for the three months up to July this year, 100,000 tons of reserve rice will be released each month, and for the bidding, priority slots will be given to businesses planning to distribute the rice to supermarkets and rice retailers.

The government plans to announce these measures as early as the 16th, and attention is focused on whether they will actually lead to improvements in the distribution of reserve rice.