Category Archives: Farm Policy

【News】Prime Minister Abe instructs agriculture minister on farmers(June 14, 2017)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has instructed Agriculture Minister Yuji Yamamoto to initiate measures to help farmers adjust to new competition from agricultural imports. His move comes as Japan and the EU are gearing up to seal a free trade deal early next month. Speaking at a regular press conference on June 13, Yamamoto told reporters that he had replied to Abe that he will fulfill his duty to protect farmers, but he declined to discuss the ongoing negotiations. Many experts believe it is an indication that Tokyo is now ready to swallow a bitter trade pill, raising alarms among Japanese farmers that it could impact them.

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【News】Agricultural Ministry to hold the first workshop for host farmers of “farm stay tour” this autumn (June 11, 2017)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) plans to start a new program of holding a practical workshop this autumn for the purpose of developing human resources of host farmers for promoting “Noh-Haku” or “farm stay tours” at rural areas in Japan. Farmers and other rural residents with interests in beginning a “farm stay tour business” at their respective houses will be invited to participate in the workshop. The participants in the MAFF special workshop are required to stay at a “developed area” of the farm stay tourism about one month, which has been successful in attracting a number of tourists to its rural community. A dozen of participants … Continue reading

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【News】LDP sets up committee for JP-EU trade deal amid PM Abe’s push(June 7, 2017)

Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has set up a committee to consult its members and stakeholders to ease anxiety over the Japan-EU free trade deal. The move coincides with a high-level push by the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to wrap up the negotiations early in July. Japan and the European Union leaders are now aiming to reach a free trade agreement when both sides meet at the sidelines of the July 7-8 G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. Koya Nishikawa has been chosen to preside the committee, which is expected to meet once a week. Nishikawa is currently the chairman of LDP’s research commission on agriculture and food … Continue reading

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【News】Japanese government’s TV program to attract inbound tourists to “Noh-Haku” of farm stay tours (June 4, 2017)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) plans to carry out a full-fledged campaign to promote “Noh-Haku” or “farm stay tours” in Japan for international tourists this year. MAFF’s “Noh-Haku” campaign is aiming at informing inbound tourists of great fun staying at a traditional Japanese farmer’s house to experience rural life in an agricultural community or a fishing village. Two kinds of 30-minute TV programs will be produced this year to be broadcasted on overseas TV channels, introducing traditional performing arts, local cuisines, farm works and peaceful country scenes in Japan. MAFF’s “Noh-Haku” TV programs will come up this autumn on TV channels in Asian countries sending a number … Continue reading

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【News】Japan’s Ministry of agriculture to revise wheat import system by creating “SBS import quota” (May 28, 2017)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) plans to revise its wheat import program this October by adapting so-called SBS or a Simultaneous Buy and Sell System to 200 thousand tons of wheat to be imported within a maximum current access of 5.74 tons in a year. Under the new SBS system, Japanese flour millers will be able to import any types of wheat from trading firms in exporting countries through their direct contracts. Wheat has been imported under the state trading system in principle. The Japanese government purchases major five types of wheat including Australian standard white under the current access commitment, and sells them to domestic flour … Continue reading

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