JA Fukui slashes rice advance payments amid surplus

JA Fukui has announced a significant reduction in the advance payments, known as 'naikin,' for new rice crops. The payment for Koshihikari has been set at 17,000 yen per 60kg, representing a 12,000 yen decrease compared to the previous year.

Other varieties also saw sharp declines: Hanaechizen was set at 16,000 yen per 60kg, and Ichihomare at 18,000 yen, both dropping by approximately 12,000 yen from last year. This follows a period of record-high prices during the 'Reiwa rice shortage' last year, when Koshihikari reached 29,000 yen per 60kg due to scarcity.

The price drop is attributed to a nationwide rice surplus and high levels of private stockpiles. In Fukui, approximately one-third of the 2025 crop remains unhanded to wholesalers. While consumers may benefit from lower retail prices, local farmers expressed concern, noting that the new rates fall below production costs for fertilizer and fuel, potentially threatening the viability of rice farming in the region.