(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yoon-gu = The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 10th that it will supply government grain to stabilize supply and demand as the price of rice from the production areas continues to rise and the increase in price widens. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to survey demand from local distributors this week to determine the amount of government grain to be supplied (lent), and will decide the supply amount considering on-site inventory status and other factors. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to swiftly implement 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 the 5th of last month, the price of rice from production areas rose by 0.4% compared to ten days ago, exceeding 230,000 won. The price of rice from production areas rose by 0.1% compared to ten days ago to 228,164 won per 80 kg (one gama) on December 15 of last year, and fell by 0.2% to 227,816 won on the 25th. Since then, it has shown an upward trend, reaching 228,420 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, and reached 232,320 won on the 5th of this month. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs had also announced a rice supply and demand stabilization plan, which included suspending 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, it was decided to release additional rice. Ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, the average retail price of rice at 20 kg was 62,690 won as of the day, up 16.4% from last year and 15.5% higher than the average year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs emphasized that while the overall consumer price index rose by 56.7% from 2005, when the surplus grain purchase system was abolished and grain reform was implemented, until last year, rice prices rose by 45.7%, indicating that rice prices rose more slowly compared to the overall consumer price. According to a survey by the Korea Rural Economic Institute last year, over half of the people perceived rice prices, which are around 300 won per 100g, as stable compared to the overall price level. ykim@yna.co.kr