‘Rice price surge’ inciting fear in the media

[Korean Farmers' News] The situation in the mountainous areas this harvest season is more difficult than ever before. The rapid spread of rice blast disease and continuous rain have delayed the rice harvest, leading to ongoing difficulties in rice supply and demand at the RPC (Grain Comprehensive Processing Plant). The recent rise in rice prices is the result of these combined factors. However, some media labeling this as a "rice price surge" and attributing it to the government's purchase of market isolation volume last year is a dangerous oversimplification that distorts the reality on the ground. Firstly, the current rise in rice prices is not an abnormal surge. It is appropriate to view it as the underlying effect of the weak harvest season over the past three years. Considering that just a few years ago, the purchase price for 40 kg of rice bran exceeded 90,000 won, the current price in the early 80,000 won range, despite the sharp rise in costs such as fertilizer, labor, and ...