【News】Tokyo Metro now operates farming station to grow green veggies (Oct. 2, 2016)

One of the subway operators in Tokyo is now growing vegetables at its high-tech farming station in a building underneath its elevated railway track to grow leafy green vegetables and sell them to local restaurants and shops under the name of “Tokyo Salad.” The indoor growing space is called the Metro Vegetable Center and operated by Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. It’s in the building of approximately 167 square meters underneath the railway track of Tozai Line, between Nishi-Kasai Station and Kasai Station in Edogawa ward. The building which was once a warehouse has now been renovated into a high-tech veggie growing plant equipped with automated, hydroponic vertical farming units where … Continue reading

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【News】 Eligibility requirements for agricultural income insurance to be widened: Farmers filing one-year income-tax return could be applicants (Nov. 9, 2016)

The Japan Agricultural News found out on November 8 that the Government and ruling parties are making final adjustments so as to work out a special measure to expand eligibility requirements for application of an agricultural income insurance scheme. One of the main eligibility criteria required for participants in the income insurance scheme is that applicants of farmers can show that they have continuously filed “blue” income-tax returns for the past five years. With a view to facilitating farmers’ participation in the scheme, the Government and ruling parties are considering the special measure to approve application of farmers who have filed a blue income-tax return only for a previous year … Continue reading

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【News】 Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform recommends drastic change of ZEN-NOH’s farm input supply system (Nov. 8, 2016)

The Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform, Shinzo Abe’s administration advisory panel, made a final list of recommendations, on November 7, concerning reforms which are to be implemented by ZEN-NOH (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Association) or a national business organization of agricultural cooperatives (JAs) as well as by designated organizations of raw milk producers. One of the key recommendations made by the Council calls for ZEN-NOH to drastically reform its farm input supply business which receives commissions from farmers through its member JAs in accordance with supply prices of agricultural inputs. The panel urges that ZEN-NOH should reform its supply business into a kind of consulting service which provides … Continue reading

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【News】 Ruling parties railroad TPP bills through special committee on November 4: Opposition parties to submit no-confidence motion against Agricultural Minister (Nov. 5, 2016)

A bill to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement and TPP related bills were passed at a November 4 session of the lower house TPP special committee by a majority vote of members of ruling parties and an opposition party Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party). The ruling bloc rammed the TPP bills through the special committee, while members of the opposition Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party had walked out of the committee meeting to express their protest against holding the committee vote without the resignation of Agricultural Minister Yuji Yamamoto, who had repeated gaffes recent weeks. The opposition parties continue to strongly protest passing … Continue reading

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【News】 ZEN-NOH launches new project to open 100 agrocenters jointly with agricultural cooperatives next ten years (Nov. 4, 2016)

ZEN-NOH (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Association) or a national business organization of agricultural cooperatives (JAs) will put its new project into practice next March, which is to operate agricultural supply stores jointly with JAs for a purpose of supplying fertilizers, chemicals and other inputs directly to farmers. ZEN-NOH aims at making farmers increase their satisfaction with a wider selection of farm inputs at the supply stores or agrocenters by managing inventory in more efficient manners through its supply network crossing over prefectural borders. It is expected that ZEN-NOH’s business function will make it possible for JA’s agrocenter to avoid taking a risk of overstock. ZEN-NOH will open the first … Continue reading

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