【News】 TPP Minister Amari seeks basic agreements in Japan-U.S. Talks (Sept. 7, 2014)

  The government will seek early settlement of the Japan-U.S. talks concerning tariffs on agricultural products, trying to reach basic agreements of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, Akira Amari, minister in charge of Economic Revitalization and TPP indicated in the interview with the Japan Agricultural News and others. To reach the basic agreements in November that U.S. President Barack Obama aims at, the Japan-U.S. talks need to be concluded and the ministerial meeting has be held in October, Amari said. “President Obama has set the basic agreements in November as a goal, and the negotiations are moving toward it”, Amari said. “We have to plan two events (Japan-U.S. talks and … Continue reading

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【News】 Make ties and sail boats for future (Sept. 7, 2014)

Kotaro Yamada – Reed Boat School (Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi Prefecture) – Three and a half years ago, the great earthquake hit the eastern part of Japan and tsunami swept away a large part of reed fields along the Kitakami River. Today, a specified non-profit organization (NPO) organized by local residents of Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi Prefecture, is trying to restore the fields. In late August, it had an event for approximately 30 people, mostly the local and some from other areas, to offer an experience of building reed boats. The event was held for the first time by the organization, inviting Jin Ishikawa, a professional adventurer, as a lecturer. Ishikawa has learnt reed … Continue reading

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【Editorial】 Women’s views important in zero-accident campaign for farms (Sept. 5, 2014)

  This fall’s farm safety campaign has been launched this week, focusing for the first time on women’s high ability to detect and avoid danger. We totally agree with the agriculture ministry’s decision to place women’s views as the pillar of the campaign. We even think they should have done it earlier. Women, who occupy half of the total agricultural worker population, can contribute greatly to improving the working environment of farmers and meeting the goal of zero accidents. Some 600 organizations are participating in the campaign which will run through October, distributing campaign materials nationwide and holding training sessions and lectures, as well as visiting farms to ramp up … Continue reading

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【News】 Smartphone game for virtual farming experiences popular among homemakers (Sept. 3, 2014)

  “Hatappi,” a game for experiencing farm work on smartphones, is getting popular among homemakers in their forties and fifties. In the game, we can enjoy tilling the land, planting seeds, pest control and harvesting of vegetables. The point is we can actually receive the harvested vegetables and fruits. LD Inc. (Meguro, Tokyo) developed this game and the number of users reached 60,000. In the game, we select equipment and materials such as plastic greenhouses or tunnels according to the guidance and continue cultivation of crops. We are supposed to do necessary tasks like picking or thinning of buds and branches in response to the growth condition of crops. The … Continue reading

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【News】 The board member of International Co-operative Alliance board concerned over Japan’s agricultural co-operative reform (Sept. 3, 2014)

  Jean-Louis Bancel, the chairman of International Co-operative Banking Association and a member of the board of the International Co-operative Alliance, expressed concern on Tuesday, Sept. 2, over Japan’s agricultural co-operative reform, saying it could adversely affect the co-operative principles of democracy, autonomy and contribution to the local community. Bancel, who is visiting Japan to learn about businesses of Japanese agricultural co-operatives, said he does not think there is any merit in breaking up the organization and limiting its scope of business, adding that the move goes against the global trend of co-operatives offering more comprehensive services and contributing to local communities. During his visit to JA Sawaisesaki, an agricultural … Continue reading

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