Four town assemblies in Hokkaido say 'NO!' to agribusiness ploy

Japan Press Weekly

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

Four town assemblies in Hokkaido say 'NO!' to agribusiness ploy

As the Diet is considering a bill to revise the Agricultural Land Law, four town assemblies in Hokkaido have adopted resolutions opposing the bill that will allow joint stock companies to make inroads into farm communities.

The statement adopted respectively by Honbetsu, Shihoro, Taiki, Makubetsu town assemblies argues that the liberalization measures will further devastate farmers as well as farming villages.

The government bill calls for the abolition of the current "farmers' land ownership" system, under which farmers themselves have the right to own the fields they cultivate.

The government is trying to revise the present law in an effort to supposedly reduce abandoned farmland, but in fact is acting in response to a demand by business circles.

In contrast, the statement blames the government's agricultural policy for the growing amount of abandoned farmland, saying, "The government policy has been so cruel to family farmers that they cannot pass their farm management down to their successors."

The statement also expresses concern about the possible consequences of the liberalization ploy. It fears that corporations may use their financial strength to posses large tracts of farmland and produce only profitable products, drive family farmers out of faming communities, refuse to rotate crops or grow less profitable farm products which will lead to a further destruction of farmland, and use the acquired land for various "more profitable purposes" such as creating industrial waste dumpsites.

The statement of Honbetsu and Shihoro towns states, "Family-run management in farming has a different philosophy from corporate management in farming. This liberalization scheme will lead to a reduction in rural community cooperation regarding environmental stewardship and the preservation of the rural landscape."

- Akahata, April 12, 2009