Unseasonable weather in Japan is impacting vegetable and rice prices. A record-breaking summer heat wave, followed by heavy snowfalls, has led to reduced crop yields. According to The Asahi Shimbun, cabbage prices have tripled, and Chinese cabbage prices have doubled. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries reports consumer prices of eight main vegetable types have increased between 117% and 336% over five years.
Cabbage now costs 336% more than usual, with lettuce and Chinese cabbage at 238% and 195% higher prices, respectively. Reuters notes rice prices surged up to 60% from a year ago. "Farmers are unable to secure all the profits from the price increases," Japan's farm minister Taku Eto stated, as per The Asahi Shimbun. "I would appreciate it if you could understand that farmers are struggling to make shipments."
Cabbage and rice, staples of the Japanese diet, are becoming less affordable, impacting low-income citizens' food security. Reuters reported a decline in vegetable intake among Japanese adults. This crop shortage affects grocery costs and farmer livelihoods, as indicated by Eto. Extreme weather, driven by global warming, continues to affect agricultural productivity.
Efforts to address rising food costs include potential government sales of stockpiled rice to cooperatives, aiming to reduce retail prices. However, vegetable prices remain high due to limited supply. Some citizens are turning to home gardening, regrowing vegetables like leeks and scallions. "Home gardening has really helped us slash our spending on food," YouTuber Kazuki Nakata shared with Reuters.
Source: TCD
