The National Assembly, at its plenary session Wednesday, approved a bill proposing a 4-percent increase in the price of grain to be purchased by the government this summer and autumn.

The government earlier submitted a 3-percent price hike, but the Assembly's agriculture-forestry and fisheries-maritime affairs committee revised the figure to 4 percent Monday.

Accordingly, the government will buy 828,000 tons of rice this autumn at a price of 60,440 won (approximately $45 dollars) per 40 kilograms, up 2,320 won from a year ago.