Japan to Boost Rice Production: PM Ishiba

   Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that his government will seek to increase the country's production of rice, a significant shift from the previous policy of adjusting rice production through de facto acreage cutbacks.
   Ishiba told a meeting of relevant ministers on the stable supply of rice that he will "change direction toward increased output." He mentioned the use of abandoned arable land and the expansion of exports as measures under the new rice policy.
   At the meeting, the government reported findings from a study on soaring rice prices. The study suggested that, despite a rise in demand due to an increase in foreign visitors to the country and other factors, the agriculture ministry believed Japan was producing sufficient volumes of rice.
   It added that a delay in the release of government-stockpiled rice, due to a passive attitude over grasping the actual situation regarding rice distribution, contributed to further price increases.

(2025/08/05-18:29)

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