|
|
|
|
|
Report
No.240501 |
|
|
|
|
- Domestic - |
|
|
2007 Rice Production Targeted 50,000 Tons Lower at 8,280,000 Tons - Government to Buy 300,000 Tons The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) had the appropriate level of 2007 national rice production set at 8,280,000 tons by the Stable Foods Sub-Committee of the Council on Food, Agriculture and Rural Area Policies, whose meeting it convened on November 24. The 2007 production target is 50,000 tons (0.6%) lower than that for 2006. The reduced production target is meant to pave the way for achieving a balanced demand and supply through lower supplies, taking account of declining rice consumption and of the need to offset over-supply by non-compliance with production adjustment. This will be the third year in succession that the target level of production is reduced from preceding year. The volume of 8,280,000 tons is what would have been named 'the target volume of national production' under the old system of rice production adjustment. At this time, however, the volume was fixed in the form of 'information on demand' in anticipation that the rice demand and supply adjustment will be transferred to the hands of agricultural producers and their organizations from 2007 crop onwards, when MAFF will withdraw its hand from fixing and allocating the production target. According to that information, the forecast demand for 2007 rice, which can not escape from the trend of declining consumption, is 90,000 tons lower compared to 2006 crop and is set at 8,350,000 tons. Normally, the same volume of 8,350,000 tons in production will bring supply and demand on par. However, the appropriate level of production for 2007 crop was set 70,000 tons lower than that. The lower level for appropriate production is meant to curb planting on excessive areas as was the case for 2006 crop and reduction of 70,000 tons will be shouldered among the prefectures which caused the excess production. 70,000 tons is the difference between the target level of production for 2006 crop set at 8,330,000 tons and the estimated actual production level at 8,400,000 tons. At the Stable Foods Sub-Committee meeting, the same day, the policy on transactions of the government reserve rice (the government rice) was also revealed and the volume of rice which the government may purchase from 2006 crop was set for 300,000 tons. The planned volume of the government rice to be sold by MAFF to rice wholesalers was also fixed at 300,000 tons to secure demand and supply balance. While the appropriate level of the government rice reserve is 1,000, 000 tons, the actual level in June was 770,000 tons. With both the planned purchases and sales having been fixed at 300,000 tons, the end of June 2007 level of the government reserve should be the as same that of this year at 770,000 tons. MAFF purchased some 400,000 tons each from 2004 and 2005 crops, and the planned volume of purchase fixed at this time will make it the third successive year of purchase in large volume. MAFF, on November 30, publicized the appropriate level of production of 2007 crop rice for respective prefectures. |
||
|
|
||
 |
 |