Japan Press Weekly

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2023 December 6 - 12 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP to Farm Minister: Save dairy and livestock farmers facing crisis situation

The Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers Group on December 8 visited the Agriculture Ministry office building to request that Minister Miyashita Ichiro implement countermeasures in response to the crisis situation facing the dairy and livestock farming industry.

JCP member of the House of Representatives Tamura Takaaki and JCP member of the House of Councilors Kami Tomoko on behalf of the JCP lawmakers’ group handed a written request directly to Vice Minister Takemura Norihide.

They argued that the government needs to take a measure to indemnify income to guarantee above a certain income level in addition to adopting a more effective pricing policy.

The JCP written request points out that rising costs in feedstuff and production materials due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as the yen’s depreciation are dealing a heavy blow to dairy and livestock farmers. Many cattle breeders, pig farmers, and poultry farmers have gone bankrupt or just abandoned their businesses.

The request also points out that the industry has already been exposed to the financial insecurity following the liberalization of markets associated with the entry into force of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and the Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement, and that the decrease in domestic consumption and in storefront prices is giving an additional negative impact. The global food crisis is caused by climate change, water shortage and frequent droughts, rising populations, and soil degradation, according to the request.

JCP Tamura and Kami told Vice Minister Takemura that Japan should do away with limitless market liberalization and import dependence, and instead should restore its food sovereignty in order for family farmers, small- and medium-sized farmers, and various potential farmers to be capable of engaging in the dairy and livestock farming industry without undue worries.

Takemura said in response, “Taking your request into account, the Ministry of Agriculture will consider ways and means for stock farmers to successfully run their livestock businesses.”

Past related article:
> Dairy and livestock farmers urge gov’t to take measures to help them survive crisis situation [February 15, 2023]