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Inside Farming Vol.5 (English) A way to survive as an apple farmer in Japan Last month I had an e-mail from a man who are going to be an apple farmer and he asked me " How do you think about the vision of cultivating apples". This is a very difficult question. So I ask to myself that the future will be bright or not bright. In his e-mail he also wrote " I think the village life give us basic pleasure through the relationship between man and nature ( so he want to be an apple farmer). But, There is one point that make me hesitate on my this decision. farming is not so beneficial ". When I read these sentences I sympathized with what he said. Because farming is not so beneficial either in Japan and I am always looking for the way how to get the profits. These days Japanese economical condition is not good. The price of fruits ( not only apples ) is getting lower each year. And from April in 1997, the consumption tax rise 3% to 5%. It makes consumers keep their money in their purse. Unfortunately, I have to say that the vision of cultivating apples is not so bright.But It is useless that I cry over this situation. Only I can do is to find the way to live as an apple farmer. As you know Japan is a small country. The price of realestate is very high. So It is difficult to make farm bigger. I have to plan to get big profit with small farm.  There
is two solutions I found.Firstly,I have to cultivate apples adding the new value. Organic is the trend of the new value and Japanese consumer is looking for the safe food. So I try to reduce spraying chemicals. It is not so easy to do. I have to study and get the advanced cultivating technology. Secondly,the direct marketing is the beneficial way to sell apples. In Japan there is the custom that people ( or companies ) send gift to their customer or their boss or relatives in December. This custom is called "OSEIBO", and "OSEIBO" is large market for me. When I sell apples directly to the customer, I can decide the price by my own decision. If I have a confidence in the quality of apples I can make a good price. And if customers is satisfied with the quality of my apples,they will buy my apples next year and introduce me new customers. ( That is the reason I make effort to produce quality apples ). These things are my case in Japan. I know every farmer make effort to survive in one's own country. I'd like to know your effort and Idea. And If you have suggestions, any Ideas, please let me know. Thank you for reading my poor English. Vol.1 Vol.2 Vol.3 Vol.4 Vol5(English) Vol.6 Vol7(English)  Go to Inside farming index page  kawai@wmail.plala.or.jp Copyright(C) KAWAI FRUITS |