備蓄びちく米まいの流通りゅうつう 円滑えんかつ化かに向むけた改善かいぜん策さくを公表こうひょう 農林水産省のうりんすいさんしょう

In response to voices saying that the released stockpiled rice has not been sufficiently distributed, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries officially announced improvement measures to facilitate smooth distribution on the 16th.

The main point is to extend the deadline for buying back the same amount of stockpiled rice that was sold from in principle, within one year to in principle, within five years, with the aim of easing concerns about the buyback and making it easier for stockpiled rice to be distributed.

Improvement measures to facilitate the distribution of stockpiled rice were announced by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto at a press conference following the Cabinet meeting on the 16th.

In this context, the government plans to extend the deadline for repurchasing the same amount of rice from dealers who bought government stockpiled rice, changing it from the current in principle, within one year to in principle, within five years. Furthermore, unless there is a significant change in supply and demand conditions, rice harvested this year will not be subject to repurchase.

By extending the deadline, the aim is to ease concerns among traders about securing the rice they need to buy back, and to make it easier for stockpiled rice to be distributed.

Additionally, by having the government buy back rice, there is also an aim to ease concerns about future rice shortages and help stabilize prices.

In addition, as part of the improvement measures, there are plans to release 100,000 tons of reserve rice each month for the three months from this month through July, and a quota will be established to give priority in sales to businesses such as supermarkets and rice retailers that already have designated distribution channels.

Minister Eto: With the kind of price and speed we expect We decided after considering how we can quickly and more broadly create a situation where there is a stockpile of rice.

If the buyback period is extended to a long span of five years, concerns will be alleviated, and if its guaranteed that 100,000 tons will be released every month from now on, we can forecast the total quantity, so I believe the sense of rice shortage during the off-season will be resolved.

If we dont go through wholesalers with the priority framework, time and costs will definitely be reduced, and we hope to be able to provide reserve rice at prices and with a sense of speed that consumers expect.