Scorching Heat, Low Rainfall Hit Niigata Rice Production

   Joetsu, Niigata Pref., Aug. 1 (Jiji Press)--High temperatures and low rainfall have affected rice production in Niigata Prefecture, a key rice production center in Japan, raising concerns among producers about both the quality and quantity of this year's harvest.
   Since late June, many areas in the central Japan prefecture have had no major rainfall for over a month, while temperatures have hit record highs.
   According to the Niigata Local Meteorological Office, this year's conditions are worse than in 2023, when rice quality and production volume declined severely.
   "We're in an unprecedented situation," said an official of the regional office of the Japan Meteorological Agency.
   The Niigata government said that the average water storage rate at 23 agricultural dams in the prefecture was 78.7 pct as of July 25, far below the 10-year average of 89.0 pct.

(2025/08/01-17:57)

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