The benchmark prices for the newly harvested rice, which is about to enter full-scale production, will be raised by 20 percent to 40 percent in major production areas.

JA Group has announced the estimated payments to be made to farmers for collection of newly harvested rice.

For example, the “Nanatsuboshi” variety from Hokkaido will be priced at 16,500 yen per 60 kilograms, a 32 percent increase from last year due to rising costs such as fuel.

To alleviate the current shortage of rice, an additional 3,000 yen will be paid to farmers for rice that will be shipped out by the end of this month. 

Uonuma Koshihikari from Niigata Prefecture is nearly 20 percent higher than last year.

Some rice brands from Ibaraki Prefecture will see increases of more than 40 percent.

Regarding rice prices, major supermarkets have reported that retail prices are already 1.2 to 1.5 times higher than the same period last year, and prices for the new rice are also expected to rise.

The Ministry of Agriculture is urging consumers to purchase rice calmly, as panic buying could further drive up prices.