TOKYO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The average price wholesalers paid for Japan's 2024 rice crop hit a record high in February for the sixth straight month, according to the agriculture ministry.

The average sales price of brown rice harvested in 2024 came to 26,485 yen (about 178 U.S. dollars) per 60 kg, up 73 percent from a year before and 2 percent from a month before amid intensifying demand, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said.

It was the average transaction price between rice wholesalers and buyers dealing with farmers, such as the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations.

To lower the price of rice, which has been on the rise following a serious shortage of the country's staple food in stores in summer 2024, the ministry decided to release a total of 210,000 tons of government-stockpiled rice.

The first batch of 150,000 tons of reserve rice was put up for auction from March 10 to 12. The ministry announced Wednesday that it will hold the second auction from March 26 to 28. Enditem

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