Tag Archives: News

【News】 Exploring value-added agriculture: Umaji, Kochi Prefecture (July 29, 2014)

The village of Umaji, Kochi Prefecture, located on the eastern prefectural border about a two-hour drive away from the city of Kochi, boasts annual sales of JPY3.4 billion with products using Yuzu citrons grown in the area. JA Umajimura, an agricultural co-operative in the village, employs 86 villagers, roughly 10 percent of the total population of 942 as of June 30. Businesses centered on direct sales of Yuzu products have become the center of the village’s economy, and JA has worked on developing new products to continue fascinating consumers nationwide. Establishment of a stable and sustainable market has also encouraged farmers to increase Yuzu production. As much as 96 percent … Continue reading

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【News】 Imported pollen regarded as source of infection for kiwifruit bacterial canker (July 25, 2014)

  There is a high possibility that pollen imported from New Zealand was a source of infection for the nation’s first case of kiwifruit bacterial canker disease Psa3 confirmed in Ehime Prefecture in May, the prefecture said in its report released on Thursday, July 24. The prefecture said the same type of imported pollen was used by all of the 17 farms where the primary infection presumably took place. Fruit Tree Research Center in Ehime, the nation’s largest kiwifruit production area, said high concentration of live Psa3 bacteria was detected from three samples of imported pollen provided by the farms. To prevent the disease from spreading, local governments and agricultural … Continue reading

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【News】 New strawberry variety Yotsuboshi developed (July 24, 2014)

  Mie, Kagawa, Chiba prefectures and National Agriculture and Food Research Organization’s Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center announced Wednesday, July 23, that they have jointly developed a new strawberry variety which is propagated by seed. Yotsuboshi, whose application for registration was made open on July 14, has the potential to grow vast numbers of good-quality plants with higher efficiency compared with the common propagation method of growing plants by runners, as plant offspring hardly inherits viral diseases from parent plants. Moreover, since it is a F1 hybrid, the first filial generation of offspring of distinctly different parental types, growers do not have to worry about the plants proliferated without permission.The … Continue reading

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【News】 Former WFO President Nominated as IYFF International Ambassador (July 20, 2014)

  The United Nations appointed Robert Carlson (67), former president of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), as the International Ambassador who would promote the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF).  Carlson said, “I will do my best to represent family farmers and ranchers throughout the world. I think it’s very important for people to recognize the significant contributions that agriculture makes on our global economy.” Carlson was appointed during a video conference.  Participants in the ceremony included José Graziano da Silva, Director General of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); the FAO official in charge of policy suggestion; the officer of IYFF’s educational team; and David Lane, U.S. Ambassador to the … Continue reading

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【News】 Happy Edible Wedding! (July 20, 2014)

Kotaro Yamada O-Mo-Te-Na-Shi : Gorgeous Veggieful Wedding An increasing number of couples are having unique “agricultural” or “pastoral” weddings at vegetables or fruits farms. Michiyo Koyama, 44, in Inzai-shi, Chiba Prefecture, helps them make their dreams come true by producing “veggie weddings” using  vegetables and flowers grown at her family’s farm. On July 12, Hiromi and Ryoji Tokumoto, 33 and 35, had their wedding reception at one of the vinyl greenhouses of Koyama and her family’s farm, Ito Naegi. “Give it up for the newly weds, Mr. & Mrs. Tokumoto,” the usher introduced them as they entered the vinyl house, cheered on by their guests. The house was available after … Continue reading

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