Amid concerns that the appearance of rice will decline due to the record-breaking heat of this summer and that farmers' yields will decrease, JA Zenno has decided to increase the amount of "third-class rice" that is rated low from next month, such as Koshihikari, its main variety, among the "provisional delivery" to be paid to farmers in Niigata Prefecture as an advance payment, according to interviews with people involved.
Every year, the JA Zen-Noh Niigata Prefectural Headquarters presents a guideline for the "provisional delivery money" that each agricultural cooperative pays as an advance when farmers in the prefecture ship rice.
The amount of the provisional delivery fee has not been disclosed, but according to the people involved, in the case of general Koshihikari shipped in Niigata Prefecture, ▽ "1st class rice" with the highest appearance rating is 60,1 yen per 3900 kg, while ▽ "3rd class rice" with a low rating is 1,800 yen, a difference of 3100,3 yen.
The increase in the number of "third-class rice" will reduce the income of farmers, but this year, due to the record-breaking heat of summer, the number of white and cloudy rice is expected to increase, and the number of rice evaluated as "third-class rice" in inspections in various parts of the prefecture is expected to increase.
For this reason, the JA Zenno Niigata Prefectural Headquarters has decided to increase the provisional delivery amount for "third-class rice" such as Koshihikari, the prefecture's main variety, from next month.
The amount to be increased varies from region to region in the case of Koshihikari, but the final adjustment is in the range of 3 yen to 3 yen per 60 kg, and it will be officially decided soon.
The "provisional payment" will be finally decided by each agricultural cooperative in Niigata Prefecture based on these guidelines.