Rice Farmer Expresses Concern Over Farming Exodus Amid Supply Surplus
A rice grower, Hiroshi Asano, who manages 38 hectares near Tokyo, anticipates a loss this year and is concerned about the viability of smaller farms as more people reportedly plan to leave the industry due to excess supply and falling prices.
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According to the South China Morning Post, a rice grower mentioned hearing reports of several individuals intending to cease farming operations this year, occurring amidst an oversupply and decreasing prices.
Hiroshi Asano, a 59-year-old rice farmer who cultivates 38 hectares (93 acres) of rice fields in Chiba, near Tokyo, anticipates incurring a loss this year. He also expressed apprehension regarding the ability of smaller-scale farmers to remain viable.
Asano, who transitioned into farming later in life after being a former truck driver, initially took over his wife's family fields before expanding his holdings to land that had been abandoned by relatives and neighbors.
Several factors have contributed to insurmountable issues for many within the already contracting sector, including extreme weather events, such as record rainfall in recent weeks, increased expenses for machinery, and reduced prices for their produce.
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