Corporate entry into agriculture will destroy regional farming

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Corporate entry into agriculture will destroy regional farming
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The Aso Cabinet is overturning the present principle by calling for the Agricultural Land Law to be revised, the aim being to pave the way for joint stock companies' entry into agriculture.

The current Agricultural Land Law, which defends the principle of farmers' ownership of land, was established after World War II by overturning the prewar landlord system that exploited peasants mercilessly. It has restricted for-profit corporations' entry into agriculture.

In contrast, the present bill submitted by the government to revise the Agricultural Land Law is aimed at opening the door to all types of corporations, including joint stock companies, under the pretext of expanding farm acreage by reducing abandoned farmland.

The present land ownership system is not to blame for increasing the amount of abandoned farmland. The truth is that the government has refused to adopt a price support policy that would provide compensation to producers for their costs, thus discouraging many family farmers and their successors from continuing to engage in.

If for-profit enterprises make inroads into agriculture, production of rice and other crops will be confined to limited areas where management efficiency is high.

The business sector is also looking to a full liberalization of farmland ownership, which will lead to the destruction of community farming that has been developed by various people such as full-time farmers, part-time farmers, and elderly farmers and rural community cooperation. This is nothing but an obstacle to the effort to raise the food self-sufficiency rate, make effective use of farmland, and promote rural revitalization.

The need now is for Japan to adopt a policy that will give all agricultural workers the incentive to engage in farming. It is important to increase the farming population in various ways, including giving incentives to young people and those who want to change their careers and who are willing to engage in farming either as individuals or as members of corporate organizations.

The Japanese Communist Party calls for a shift in government farmland policy to one of developing community-supported agriculture in line with the principle of farmers' right to the ownership of land.

- Akahata, March 11, 2009