Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

African cooperative leaders visit Shizuoka prefecture in Japan to find out activities of Shimizu Agricultural Cooperative

SHIZUOKA, Sept. 2 – Leaders of cooperative organizations in African countries had a study trip at Shimizu Agricultural Cooperative, called as JA Shimizu, to observe activities carried out by Japanese farmers at their cooperative. They came to Tokyo to learn about the Japanese cooperative movement by participating in a seminar that is being held from August 28 to September 6 jointly by Japan Consumers’ Co-operative Union and United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with Japan Joint Committee of Cooperatives (JJC) heading an organizational network of various cooperatives in the country. Their field trip to the JA Shimizu was organized as a part of the seminar program, providing them … Continue reading

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The burden of market liberalization – loss on sales of “minimum access” rice imports squeezing agricultural budget

TOKYO, Sept. 17 – “Even if the domestic agricultural market is liberalized, the nation can survive with strong agriculture.” “Japan liberalized its rice market 25 years ago, but that did not affect domestic supply and demand.” – These are the excuses the government gives as it creates new free trade agreements one after another. However, the actual impact of rice market liberalization has been deep and long-standing. In fiscal 2015, 50.5 billion yen of tax money, a record high amount, was used to cover the loss on sales of so-called “minimum access” rice, rice imported under an annual tariff-free quota. Forcible market liberalization is putting pressure on agricultural budgets and … Continue reading

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Japan Pork Producers cement bond with Korea’s counterpart

SEOUL, Sept. 15 — The Japan Pork Producers Association (JPPA) has entered into a sister agreement with South Korea’s counterpart at a time when both Tokyo and Seoul are pushing free trade agreements, which inevitably expose the pork industry to more import competition. The JPPA signed the sister pact with the Korean Pork Producers Association (KPPA) on Sept. 14 in Seoul. This is the first time for JPPA to have a sister agreement with foreign partners. Both Japanese and Korean domestic pork industries have nearly the same number of producers as well as the swine herd size. But Korea’s pork self-sufficiency rate is higher than that of Japan. The Korean … Continue reading

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Premium Japan Farmers Market opens at Changi Airport, Singapore, on September 22

TOKYO, Sept. 16 — A grocery store specialized in Japanese agricultural products and processed food opened on September 22, 2017, at one of the largest international airports in Asia, Changi Airport in Singapore. Its products are supplied by Zen-Noh International, a leading exporter of Japanese agriproducts and a subsidiary of National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH). The store sells beef, fruits, and Japanese sake as well as ready-to-eat boxed lunch, called bento, with side dishes cooked using Japanese agriproducts. The shop is expected to give a boost to the expansion of the export of agricultural products from Japan. The store opening was announced on September 15 by Zen-Noh International and … Continue reading

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Taiwan lifts ban on Japanese beef import, Japan’s Farm Ministry shows expectation for early resumption

TOKYO, Sept. 20 — As of September 18, 2017, the Taiwanese government has lifted a ban on beef imports from Japan and ended the 16-year-old restriction imposed in 2001 following an outbreak of BSE or mad cow disease in Japan. The beef from Japan must come from cattle under 30 months old, according to the authorities, but the conditional deregulation is likely to add a new momentum to the growth of Japanese beef export, considering beef consumption in Taiwan is growing and dishes using Japanese beef is getting more popular among Taiwanese tourists to Japan. Japan still has to wait for the Taiwan government’s approvals for its export facilities, and … Continue reading

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