MAFF's manual of statistical survey on wasted agricultural plastics (WAP) was changed in March, 2010. This study analyzes the merits and demerits resulting from the changes, comparing the new WAP estimation methods with the former. The study also clarifies the influences of the change on 'other obscure problems' based on the filed survey. The results showed that the change could reflect expansion of plastic films' reuse and long-term usable green house plastic coverings to the statistics, and labor saving for the estimation. But even though both survey manuals used the same terminology regarding wasted amount, the resulting components were not the same, and the new survey created confusion of the WAP concept due to allowance both of issued manifest amount and greenhouse areas as applicable estimation standards. The research indicates that the new manual veiled some illegal disposals such as no paid disposal without issued manifest, burning on the fields, etc.

View full abstract

This paper reports on a study on the staff-responsibility contract system of a large-scale farm in China. It focuses on the operating circumstance of staff contracts, market prices and profit increases of crop and the establishment of large-machinery operation systems. In the case of the investigated Farm L, owing to an increase of the number of employees who want to contract for land, the contract land area of each employee has been decreased. However, a large-scale planting system can be maintained because of the unified management of the farm.

View full abstract

This paper examines how price differences are determined on the basis of distance from production sites and market sizes in case of Winter Chinese Cabbage in Japan. The distribution system of Winter Chinese Cabbage in Japan is competitive, with individual farmers, small-scale private wholesalers and public wholesalers sharing the market. Winter Chinese Cabbage can be produced in most areas of Japan, therefore many wholesalers buy the produce from nearby production sites. In particular, in the case of Ibaraki prefecture, where the most Winter Chinese Cabbage are produced, farmers can freely choose how and where to sell their products, so the distribution system tends to vary and be divided into smaller scales. Therefore market sizes and wholesale prices are not correlated. Furthermore, prices of Winter Chinese Cabbage are determined largely by consumer characteristics in each region. For example, markets in Tokyo metropolitan area can sell products for relatively high price because the main consumers in the area gain high income. The results of econometric analysis and interviews indicate several points. When the market is competitive in terms of production sites, then distribution systems vary, and the private sector share increases. The nearer the production site is to the large city, the more the individual farmers tend to sell the produce through local middlemen or directly to the markets. Wholesale prices are determined by income level in the region and distance from the production sites.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

This paper will clarify the role which the baogongtou plays in the Chinese construction industry based on examination of a Project A in Chengyang, Qingdao, China. Through the baogongtou, migrant-workers from rural villages are able to acquire work and income. Most construction companies entrust all of the construction labor to baogongtou and also distribute wages to workers through baogongtou. At present, it has become clear that baogongtou is playing an indispensable role in the form of mediation between the migrant-workers and the construction companies. However, some negative facts have also become clear regarding baogongtou, particularly delayed and unpaid wages of such migrant-workers. Although baogongtou may be the ringleader of the problems in certain cases, in most cases, it is the fact that the baogongtou himself is one of the victims. If a baogongtou is not paid fully by the construction companies, the amount of wages that becomes negotiable and there is the possibility that the amount paid to the workers becomes lower. Such delayed and unpaid wages is a primary reason that the subcontracting system in the construction industry in China has become a hotbed of problems.

View full abstract

This study reveals the challenges in improving milking quality through milking equipment maintenance by private dealers and public organisations in an examination in northern mainland Japan. First, milking system maintenance by private dealers focuses not only on the function of the system itself but also identifies and eliminates negative aspects for the milking cows, especially regarding udder health. Second, public schemes regarding milking equipment checks organised by A prefecture have been formed by cross-functional teams - co-operative officers, extension officers, veterinarians and dealers - so as to be able to provide multidimensional information, which can be implemented quickly for farmers. Milking equipment maintenance organised by both private dealers and through public schemes are needed to clarify and ensure outcomes in economic effects which consider trends of bacterial counts, somatic cell counts and occurrence of mastitis by medical records as well as data from DHI on individual farmer.

View full abstract

This paper identifies the choice criterions and the consumer expectations for the farmers' direct sales when the consumers buy fruit and vegetables, using a consumer survey and an AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process). As results, the most important criterias are freshness, domestic products, and selection of products to match the cooking menu. Choosing domestic products over import products was pointed to by 75% of consumers. Regarding the prices of direct selling of non-standard products, 40% of consumers expect low prices. The proportion of consumers who expect low prices increases among older consumers. In the AHP analysis, at the general ranking of the place for buying fruit and vegetables, the weight vector of the farmers' direct sales is larger, at 0.46, than other retail sites. The most important evaluation criteria for buying fruit and vegetables, such as freshness and domestic products, are also found in the farmers' direct sales. From this, we can expect an increase in direct sales more in urban areas, with the food self-sufficiency rate increasing through boosting consumption of domestic agricultural products.

View full abstract

Regarding the characteristics of Japanese foreign development policy in multinational agribusiness, it has been argued that development import, which provides products for Japan, is a major component. There is, however, a possibility to change the balance through policy changes, because the significance of Japanese market is lessened due to a decreasing scale demand. The issue of this paper is to grasp the characteristics of recent foreign development of Japanese firms in grain business by illuminating the structure of the new global agri-food system constructed by Japanese firms. The results indicate the following points. The background of this business expansion are in increasing grain prices, increasing Asian demand, and the characteristic of grain business to seek economies of scale. Further, Japanese firms promote third-country trade to transport grain, produced in Americas, to Asia, which is different from the previous patterns of foreign development, i.e. development import. Finally, Japanese firms tend to choose alliance or joint venture compared with the grain majors. It is suggested that a moderate relationship of the agri-food system will be constructed, if the business of Japanese multinational agribusiness is expanded.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between raw materials procurement methods of the solid fuel business and the regional supply and demand structure, and to clarify associated issues of business promotion. The research clarifies the following points. Firstly, regional supply and demand structure in rice hulls and other methods of raw materials procurement in solid fuel business were closely related. Secondly, demand in the solid fuel business was coordinated with existing demand, by utilizing the rice hulls generated from small drying plants. This adjustment method can be characterized as social compartmentalization with existing demand.

View full abstract