TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan is set to implement a policy enabling the government to instruct farmers to submit production increase plans if domestic supplies of rice and other key items drop by 20 percent or more and cause a surge in prices, a draft of the document showed Tuesday.

The measure for mitigating crises was presented by the farm ministry at a committee meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party amid global instability in food production caused by factors such as abnormal weather and the Ukraine war.

The policy, which specifies the implementation of a food supply emergency measures law passed last June, is set to be approved by the Cabinet in line with the enactment of the new law on April 1.

As failing to comply with instructions for planning or reporting will result in penalties, the law's effective implementation will require the understanding of farmers on specific operational measures.

In addition to rice, the 12 items designated in a government ordinance to be subject to the law include dairy products, livestock products, soybeans, wheat and sugar.

Emergency measures will not be required if supply can be supplemented through imports, even if domestic production declines.