An off-the-cuff remark about never paying for rice has cost Japan’s agriculture minister his job, as pressure mounts on the government to solve the nation’s rice crisis.

Japanese Minister of Agriculture Taku Eto stepped down from his office after making a remark about rice that many in the public found out of touch with budget-conscious consumers. Eto allegedly told the audience at a fundraising party on Sunday that he has “never bought rice” due to the amount of it gifted to him.