As prices soar, Zen-Noh ships just 32% of government-stockpiled rice

Japan's Zen-Noh, representing farmers' cooperatives, has only shipped 32% of its purchased rice from the government due to low demand. The federation is awaiting a price drop as part of an effort to stabilize rising rice prices, despite having been asked by wholesalers to ship varying amounts each month since March, including over 140,000 tons in July. Zen-Noh has been shipping between 2,000 and 3,000 tons daily but is working to ramp up shipments as quickly as possible ahead of a planned increase in supply by the agriculture ministry.