Source: Nikkei.com
29/03/2011 – The agricultural ministry is considering asking farmers in Fukushima and some other prefectures to delay rice planting for a few weeks amid growing concerns about radiation leaks from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crippled by the devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this month, officials said.
The delay would give the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries time to examine whether rice paddies are too contaminated with radioactive substances to allow cultivation, the officials said.
The request would be made to farmers in Fukushima, where the nuclear plant is located, and other prefectures, such as Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma, where radiation levels above safety limits under the Food Sanitation Law were detected in spinach and other agricultural products.
The ministry will step up soil inspection of rice paddies to determine whether farmers can plant rice.
The ministry intends to compensate affected farmers if necessary, the officials said.
Rice planting usually ends by the middle of May. The ministry thinks postponement for two to three weeks would not seriously affect the harvest.