Ishiba Eyes Different Way to Release Stockpiled Rice

   Tokyo, May 21 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday instructed new agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi to consider releasing government-stockpiled rice through no-bid contracts, instead of auctions, to lower elevated rice prices.
   "We'll release (the stockpiled rice) without a limit if there's demand," Koizumi said at a press conference after assuming the ministerial post.
   According to a survey by the agriculture ministry, the average price of rice sold at supermarkets across the country in the week through May 11 came to 4,268 yen per 5 kilograms, up sharply from around 2,000 yen a year earlier.
   Ishiba told a parliamentary session on the day that prices of rice per 5 kilograms should be between 3,000 and 4,000 yen.
   The government began releasing its stockpiled rice in March. So far, it has sold a total of 312,296 tons of the rice at three auctions. Of the total, 296,195 tons have been purchased by the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, or Zen-Noh.

(2025/05/21-21:21)

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