August 29, 2022

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on August 5 announced that Japan’s calorie-based food self-sufficiency rate in FY2021 rose slightly to 38% from the previous year thanks to an increase in wheat and soybean production. However, the situation in which Japan relies on other countries for more than 60% of its food remains unchanged. With a global food crisis looming, the urgent need is for Japan to improve its food self-sufficiency rate.

When looking at essentials for domestic food production - fodder and chemical fertilizers, Japan imports 75% of the former and nearly 100% of the latter from other countries. In addition, most of other materials for agricultural production, such as fuel, vegetable seeds, and chicks, come from other countries. Their prices in Japan have been hitting all-time highs due to a surge in international market prices.

Skyrocketing prices of agricultural materials are delivering a devastating blow to farmers who are experiencing the continuous decline and slump in the rice price and other produce prices. The Agriculture Ministry’s latest statistics on commodity prices in agriculture show that when the 2020 level is taken at 100, the price of production materials in June 2022 increased to 115 while the prices of farm products decreased to 99.

This situation may lead to a significant decline in local farming, a further decrease in Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate, and threats to food supplies for the entire population.

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister Kishida Fumio-led government appears to have no sense of danger. Although PM Kishida speaks of the importance of food security, he shows no intention to improve Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate as evidenced in the fact that he leaves the sharp drop in the price of rice as is and cuts state subsidies for alternative crops grown in the diverted paddy fields.

The need is to change Japan’s agriculture policy to one squarely facing the crisis in Japan’s food supply and agriculture, putting an end to a heavy reliance on imported foods, and taking responsibility to increase the nation’s food self-sufficiency rate. Furthermore, it is urgently necessary to implement measures which include programs to guarantee prices and incomes so that farmers can increase their yields without undue anxiety.