(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yun-gu = The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 10th that it will supply government-held grain to stabilize supply and demand as the price of rice in the fields continues to rise and the rate of increase is growing. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to survey demand from wholesale distributors in the fields this week to determine the amount of government grain to be supplied and will consider on-site inventory conditions to decide the supply volume. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs intends to swiftly push forward with rice supply and demand stabilization measures to prevent the burden on consumer shopping baskets from the recent rise in rice prices from becoming prolonged. According to the National Data Agency, as of five days ago, the price of rice in the fields had risen by 0.4% compared to ten days prior. The price of rice in the fields was 228,164 won per 20 kg as of December 15 last year, up 0.1% from the previous ten days, and fell 0.2% to 227,816 won on the 25th. Since then, it showed an upward trend, rising to 228,449 won (0.3%) on the 5th of last month, 229,280 won (0.3%) on the 15th, and 229,328 won (0.1%) on the 25th, surpassing 230,000 won at 232,332 won on the 5th of this month. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs had announced a rice supply and demand stabilization plan last month, which included postponing the market isolation of 100,000 tons of 2025 rice and additionally supplying up to 60,000 tons of rice for government grain processing. However, as the price of rice continued to rise, the decision was made to release additional rice. With the Lunar New Year holiday approaching, the average retail price of rice at 20 kg was 62,727 won as of the 9th, up 16.5% from last year.