A "Rice Shortage" Sparks Reflection: What's Wrong with Japanese Agriculture?
In recent years, Japan, a technological powerhouse, has seen its economy repeatedly flash warning signs, and the "rice shortage" of the summer of 2023 has pushed the country's predicament into the spotlight. Rice on supermarket shelves was snapped up, forcing the government to implement purchase restrictions, a phenomenon that has attracted global attention and discussion. Why has a former agricultural exporting powerhouse fallen into such an awkward situation? What deep-seated reasons lie behind this "rice shortage"?
As the "Rice Shortage" Hits, Unease Spreads in Japanese Society
In July 2023, rice shortages began to emerge in some parts of Japan, with rice shelves in major supermarkets being cleared out. This sudden "rice shortage" caught many Japanese off guard. Although the Japanese government quickly made policy adjustments, the "rice shortage" continued, and the price of rice also rose. This phenomenon quickly led to the spread of social unease, with people starting to hoard rice, further exacerbating the tight market supply.
Reducing Cultivated Land, Aging Population, and Capital Manipulation: Japanese Agriculture Faces Multiple Challenges
In fact, Japan's rice production has been declining in recent years, already laying the groundwork for this "rice shortage." In 2023, Japan's rice production fell to 6.61 million tons, almost halved compared to the historical peak. The reasons are manifold, with Japanese agriculture facing multiple challenges:
1. Decreasing Cultivated Land and Scarce Agricultural Land:
With the advancement of urbanization, the amount of arable land in Japan is continuously decreasing. Limited land resources need to meet the growing demands for housing, factories, and infrastructure construction, with agricultural land being continuously squeezed.
2. Aging Population:
The aging population in Japan has led to a shortage of agricultural labor. As the younger generation moves to cities for better opportunities, the rural areas are left with an aging workforce, which is not sufficient to maintain the agricultural industry.
3. Capital Manipulation:
The influence of capital on the agricultural sector has also been a significant issue. Large corporations and investors sometimes control the market, leading to price fluctuations and affecting the stability of the agricultural industry.
These challenges have collectively contributed to the decline in rice production and the subsequent "rice shortage" that Japan is currently experiencing. The situation underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to address the issues of land use, labor, and market stability in the agricultural sector.Aging intensifies, severe shortage of agricultural labor force:
Japan is one of the most aging countries in the world, and the majority of agricultural workers are elderly. Young people tend to choose emerging industries, resulting in a lack of successors in agriculture, leading to idle fertile land in some areas and a decline in agricultural productivity.
Capital seeks profit, exacerbating market supply and demand imbalance:
Some capitalists and suppliers hoard goods and deliberately control the supply of rice, waiting for prices to rise before selling to obtain high profits. This short-sighted behavior further exacerbates the imbalance of market supply and demand, leading to the worsening of the "rice shortage" phenomenon.
Learning from others: Enlightenment from Heilongjiang
Heilongjiang Province, which has a similar land area to Japan, produced as much as 24.4 million tons of rice in 2023, nearly four times that of Japan. The successful experience of Heilongjiang Province may provide some enlightenment for Japan:
Technology empowerment, improve agricultural production efficiency:
Heilongjiang Province actively promotes the mechanization and digital transformation of agriculture, greatly improving agricultural production efficiency. For example, the widespread use of advanced equipment such as rice transplanters and combine harvesters, as well as the use of sensors, drones, and other technologies for precision agricultural management.Policy Support to Attract Young People Back to Farming:
Heilongjiang Province has introduced a series of policy measures to encourage and support young people to return to their hometowns to start businesses and develop modern agriculture. For instance, they provide support in terms of startup funding, technical training, land transfer, and other areas to attract more young people to engage in agricultural development.
Reflection and Outlook: The Future Path of Japanese Agriculture
This "rice shortage" has sounded an alarm for Japan and has also sparked thoughts about the future development of Japanese agriculture. Experts point out that the Japanese government needs to take more proactive and effective measures to address the challenges faced by agricultural development:
- Increase agricultural investment and improve agricultural infrastructure:
Increase investment in agricultural research to cultivate high-yield and high-quality rice varieties; strengthen the construction of farmland water conservancy to enhance the risk resistance of agriculture.
- Encourage large-scale agricultural operations to improve agricultural competitiveness:
Promote and support the development of new types of agricultural operators such as family farms and farmers' cooperatives to increase the scale and efficiency of agricultural production.
- Strengthen international cooperation to ensure food security:Actively engage in international agricultural cooperation, expand channels for grain imports, and establish a diversified grain supply system.
The "rice shortage" incident is not only a practical problem faced by Japanese society but also serves as a wake-up call for other countries around the world. Against the backdrop of global climate change and escalating geopolitical risks, ensuring food security has become a common challenge faced by all countries. How to construct a more robust food security system through technological innovation, policy support, and international cooperation is an important issue facing countries worldwide.
Related news and data:
On August 31, 2024, Financial World reported, "Japan's 'Rice Shortage': Facing the First Rice Shortage Since 1999."
On September 3, 2024, an article titled "The Chasm Between China and Japan! Japan's Area of 370,000 km² Produces 6.61 Million Tons of Rice Annually, How About Heilongjiang's Output?" pointed out the significant difference in rice production between China and Japan.
According to data from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Japan's food self-sufficiency rate was only 38% in 2023, far below the government's target.
Akita Prefecture in Japan is a famous rice-producing area, but it has also faced issues such as a decrease in arable land and aging population in recent years. The local government has actively promoted smart agricultural technology and attracted young people to return to their hometowns to start businesses, achieving certain results.
Wuchang City in Heilongjiang Province, China, is a well-known "hometown of rice." In recent years, by creating the "Wuchang Rice" brand and developing high-quality rice cultivation, it has driven local farmers to increase their income and become wealthy.
This "rice shortage" may only be the beginning, reminding us that food security issues cannot be ignored. Only by being prepared in advance can we remain invincible in the face of future challenges.