The market will sort that out. If it’s a significant waste of resources, it will end up being more expensive in the long run.

> maybe the rice farmers need to charge less

How do you convince them of that? I’ll tell you how: you start buying imported rice instead, if it’s cost competitive. Meeting more of the demand with imports reduces the (remaining) demand for the domestic product and exerts a downward price pressure. Domestic rice growers can still charge a little more for their rice (if they sell it locally) than overseas rice suppliers, because shipping it to its destination is cheaper. But there are limits to how MUCH more they can charge and remain competitive (all else being equal). The practical limit on that difference is based on the cost of shipping.

> the way Japanese Rice farming industry has been protected
> means its really not competitive with the rest of the World

Protectionism is harmful in the long run. If you keep it up indefinitely, the protected industry eventually becomes so hopelessly out of touch with the world that sooner or later it’s completely incapable of adapting to changing market conditions and patently not worth preserving any more. The Japanese rice industry is probably not at that point yet: if the protections are reduced and eventually lifted, the industry can probably adapt and survive.

…also, Mothra was a moth, not a butterfly. I demand people recognize this important difference!