Aug 10 (NHK) - The latest data shows Japan continues to depend on imported food.
Japan's Agriculture Ministry says the food self-sufficiency rate in fiscal 2016 fell for the first time in 6 years. The rate is based on calorie intake.
Ministry officials say the country's food self-sufficiency rate in fiscal 2016 stood at 38 percent, down one percentage point from the previous fiscal year. This makes it second lowest ever. The lowest was 37 percent in fiscal 1993.
The officials say the main causes are the falling production of wheat in Hokkaido due to typhoons and a continued decrease in rice consumption per head.
Japan's food self-sufficiency is the lowest among industrialized countries.
