New Zealand’s investor makes first kiwifruit harvest in Japan

TSUNO, Oct. 9 — A firm with New Zealand’s capital has made its first harvest of kiwifruit in southern Japan. That could create a successful grower business and the long-term benefit in a marginal and ageing community. Mikiwi, the Japanese subsidiary of the New Zealand investment company, has partnered with Japanese growers to grow kiwifruit in Tsuno town, Miyazaki prefecture. It invested 360 million yen to produce 6.4 hectares of kiwifruit in 2014. The New Zealand investor said at a press conference on Oct. 8 that it expects between 40 and 45 tons of kiwifruit in Japan, with revenue of 14 million yen for this fiscal year ending in March … Continue reading

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Chubu Centrair Airport can now inspect Japanese-grown food

TOKYO, Oct. 8 — Japanese inspectors have set up a service counter for plant and animal quarantine within the terminals at Chubu Centrair International Airport, the main gateway for the central Japan. That will make it much easier for foreign visitors to have Japanese-grown fruits and vegetables inspected and obtain relevant certification before taking them to their home countries, the agriculture ministry said. Previously, such a quarantine service was located far from the departure and arrival terminals at airports, and it has been time-consuming for travelers to get inspection certificates. The government is looking to promote Japanese-grown agriculture products overseas, and it has installed a quarantine service counter within terminals … Continue reading

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Japanese-grown carnations wane as imports rise in Japan

TOKYO, Oct. 5 — Japan’s production of carnations has fallen in recent years, as cheap imports flood the market, data from the agriculture ministry shows. The imports of carnations in 2016 rose 6% from a year earlier to a record 361.6 million flowers. They account for nearly 60 percent of the Japanese market. The biggest exporter is Colombia, which saw a 7% surge from a year earlier to 236 million. China and Vietnam also each saw a 7% increase. On the other hand, the production of carnations has declined in Japan. Japan produced 251.5 million carnations in 2016. The volume was a record low since 1976, the oldest year for … Continue reading

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International Labour Organization’s head of cooperatives unit urges Japanese cooperatives to make more efforts to promote their activities abroad

TOKYO, Sept. 13 – The head of International Labour Organization’s Cooperatives Unit gave high marks to Japanese cooperatives’ activities, expressing hope that such initiatives will be promoted worldwide. In an interview with The Japan Agricultural News during her visit to Japan, Simel Esim of the Geneva-based organization said cooperatives can make global contributions by working to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. Ever since it was established, the ILO has recognized the importance of cooperatives in carrying out its mission of realizing social justice and prevention of unemployment, Esim said. Based on Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation adopted by member states in 2002, the cooperatives unit is … Continue reading

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Japan and Hong Kong sign agreement to promote Japan’s food exports

TOKYO, Oct. 3 – Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) agreed on Oct. 2 to strengthen cooperation aimed at boosting Japan’s exports of food, farm and marine products to Hong Kong. Agriculture minister Ken Saito and HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong signed a memorandum with additional clauses for cooperation, including promotion of Japanese cuisine, at the ministry in Tokyo the same day. Hong Kong is the world’s largest exporter of Japanese food and agriculture products. The ministry and the council signed a memorandum on export promotion in 2012 to recover Japan’s exports which had been reduced after the Fukushima No. 1 … Continue reading

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