Emergency Rice Reserves Released, Long Queues Form Outside Supermarkets Across Japan | Dispatch

Emergency Rice Reserves Released, Long Queues Form Outside Supermarkets Across Japan | Dispatch

Japan is facing a rise crisis, one that strikes at the core of its economy, its agriculture, and its national identity. In Yokohama, supermarket lines stretched for blocks. Loudspeakers directed crowds. Tickets were issued. Security was present. All this while the government began releasing its emergency rights reserves due to nationwide shortages. But what is causing this shortage? A brutal summer last year devastated harvests, slashing yields and sending branded rice prices soaring by more than 50%. For millions, the staple food is suddenly out of reach. In Tokyo, consumer price index rose more slowly in July than in the month before due to lower energy costs. But the price of food kept going up at an alarming rate. The overall consumer price index rose 2.9% from a year ago. The surge in rice prices began months ago and is compounding government data. Now data shows rise rose 98.4% yearonear in April after climbing 92.5% in March. Now only one bag per group is allowed. Supplies are vanishing within hours with signs reading sold out. But the fallout reaches far beyond the checkout lines. Farmers who invested heavily in this year’s crops are hoping to recover. They now face collapsing prices as reserve stocks undercut the market. Some say their hopes have been wiped out overnight. When the government decided to release the reserved rice following the rice shortage concern across the market, our perspective or hope faded away. My concern is for the prices to go down again due to the excess rice. Retailers are overwhelmed as well. Traditional rice shops are rationing supplies and unable to predict demand or protect longtime customers. And deeper questions are emerging about Japan’s ability to protect its food sovereignity in an era of climate change, inflation, and foreign trade pressures. The balance between the size of cultivated land and how much effort farmers have put into growing rice is changing. They are having to introduce bigger heavy equipment and different ways to grow rice. Whether this is a good thing or not, whether to handle rice as an industrial product with the latest technology in order to produce exactly the same quality and quantity every year is extremely debatable. Rice is not just a commodity in Japan. It is sacred. But the balance is tipping. And as a country leans on emergency reserves, many wonder how long can this system hold and what will be left when it breaks.

Emergency Rice Reserves Released, Long Queues Form Outside Supermarkets Across Japan

#rice #japan #wion

About Channel:

WION The World is One News examines global issues with in-depth analysis. We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim is to empower people to explore their world. With our Global headquarters in New Delhi, we bring you news on the hour, by the hour. We deliver information that is not biased. We are journalists who are neutral to the core and non-partisan when it comes to world politics. People are tired of biased reportage and we stand for a globalized united world. So for us, the World is truly One.

Please keep discussions on this channel clean and respectful and refrain from using racist or sexist slurs and personal insults.

Subscribe to our channel at https://goo.gl/JfY3NI
Check out our website: http://www.wionews.com
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://bit.ly/455YOQ0
Connect with us on our social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WIONews
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIONews
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wionews/
Follow us on Google News for the latest updates

Zee News:- https://bit.ly/2Ac5G60
Zee Business:- https://bit.ly/36vI2xa
DNA India:- https://bit.ly/2ZDuLRY
WION: https://bit.ly/3gnDb5J
Zee News Apps: https://bit.ly/ZeeNewsApps