JA コメ確保かくほに向むけて 農家のうかへの“前払まえばらい金きん” 約やく3～4割わり引き上ひきあげ

Efforts to secure rice to be harvested this autumn are spreading across various JAs, with many raising the provisional payment made in advance to farmers by about 30 to 40 percent compared to last year.

The estimated payment is an advance paid by the JA to farmers when collecting rice, and it serves as an indicator for determining that years market price of rice.

There are many JAs that do not publicly disclose the amount of the estimated payment, but for some, the estimated payment has been made public.

Of these, in Niigata Prefecture, which has the highest production in Japan, the JA Zen-Noh Niigata Prefectural Headquarters set a guideline for the advance payment in March, raising the price for regular Koshihikari by 6,000 yen, or 35%, from last years amount to 23,000 yen per 60 kilograms.

The price of Uonuma Koshihikari will also be raised by 5,500 yen from last year to 25,000 yen per 60 kilograms, which is an increase of 28%.

Also, Zen-Noh Akita indicated a guideline for the estimated payment to stakeholders in March, and plans to raise the price of Akitakomachi rice to 24,000 yen per 60 kilograms, which is an increase of 7,200 yen, or 42%, compared to the amount indicated last year.

Furthermore, JA Fukui Prefecture plans to raise the price of Koshihikari by 4,800 yen, or 28%, from last years indicated amount, setting it at at least 22,000 yen per 60 kilograms.

Each local JA usually presents a rough estimate of payments from summer to autumn each year, but this year, they announced it before the rice planting season and even increased the amount, aiming to encourage farmers to ship their rice.

The competition to secure rice is intensifying. In Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, a famous rice-producing region, some farmers have already been offered higher purchase prices from wholesalers for the new rice to be harvested this autumn compared to last year, leading to fierce competition among businesses to secure rice.

Mr. Seki manages about 90 hectares of rice fields in Uonuma City and Minamiuonuma City, and has been planting rice since May 1st.

From March to April, Mr. Seki received about five inquiries from wholesale companies wanting to purchase new rice to be harvested in the fall, and he says this is the first time he has received such inquiries before the rice planting season.

Mr. Seki ships all the rice he harvests each year directly to a wholesale company without going through the agricultural cooperative, and last year he sold it at an average price of 25,000 yen per 60 kilograms. This year, he has been offered a purchase price that is 20 to 30 percent higher.

The JA Zen-Noh Niigata Prefecture Headquarters has set a guideline for the estimated payment to be advanced to farmers, and since they have indicated a policy to raise it by 28% compared to last year for Uonuma Koshihikari, it appears that wholesale companies are offering even higher prices in an effort to secure rice.

Mr. Seki: The current retail price is too high, and the fact that consumers are moving away from rice is not good for producers either.

I want the government to take measures so that transactions are conducted at fair prices. Expert: JA has a considerable sense of crisis. Professor Katsumi Arahata of Japan International Academy University, who is knowledgeable about rice policy and distribution, pointed out regarding the fact that JAs around the country are presenting provisional payment amounts early on, The amount of rice that the agricultural cooperatives can collect is on a declining trend, and this affects their profits, so they are probably in a situation where they are trying to gather rice with a considerable sense of crisis.

Regarding the fact that the amount exceeds last years level: The fact that the estimated price was set high in the first place means that the agricultural cooperative expects collection to become more difficult.

Private businesses collect rice while adding extra charges based on rough estimates, so there is a high possibility that this will further fuel the rise in rice prices, which could be a negative outcome from the consumers perspective.

As for the conditions necessary for the price of newly harvested rice to decrease, it is mentioned that the sense of shortage should have eased by August, before the new rice is fully distributed, due to the sufficient release of reserve rice, and that the rice harvest for the 7th year of Reiwa should be at least on par with an average year. If these conditions are met, there is a possibility that the price could fall to just under 3,500 yen including tax for 5 kilograms.

However, he said, I dont think it will ever drop below 3,000 yen.

Professor Arahata added, The important point is whether we can eliminate the current sense of shortage by August.

In the industry, there have been voices from the beginning saying that about 500,000 tons are lacking, and with the current amount of reserve rice being released, it still might not be enough.

When the amount exceeds just the right level and starts to feel excessive, it actually brings a sense of reassurance, so I believe its necessary to release more than enough of the stockpiled rice, he said.