Record-breaking heat waves and heavy snowfalls in Japan have led to a severe food security crisis, causing vegetable and rice prices to skyrocket. The price of cabbage has tripled, while Chinese cabbage has doubled. Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reports that consumer prices of eight main types of vegetables have increased by 117-336% over the past five years.
Farmers are struggling to make ends meet as crop yields continue to decline. “Farmers are unable to secure all the profits from the price increases,” said Japan’s farm minister Taku Eto. The crop shortage not only affects grocery store bills but also farmer livelihoods.
The issue is exacerbated by global warming, which drives extreme weather events that degrade soil health, impact planting conditions, and diminish crop yields. Earth.org reports that climate change has a significant impact on agricultural productivity.
To address the crisis, Japanese officials are exploring short-term solutions. The farm ministry is considering new rules to sell stockpiled rice to agricultural cooperatives, but cabbage prices remain high due to lack of supply or stockpile. Some citizens have turned to home gardening to supplement their vegetable costs, sharing knowledge online to help others.
While a long-term solution lies in addressing global warming, these short-term measures aim to mitigate the impact on consumers and farmers alike.
Source: https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/japan-vegetable-prices-rising-farmers-struggling-food-costs