Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
4. Advanced measures and activities led by Japan
4.1 Agricultural policy measures for protecting the environment in Japan
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan released “Basic
Environmental Policy on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries” in December 2003. The
policy document is sub-titled “Shifting to Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Thinking
Much of Preservation of the Environment.” It declares that the target of assistance by the
MAFF will shift to agriculture, forestry and fisheries for the preservation of the
environment. The basic environmental policy cites policy measures for the environmental
issues of sound water circulation, sound atmospheric circulation, sound materials
circulation and preserving a sound environment in rural areas. Concerning sound water
circulation, preserving agricultural land and securing irrigation water supply functions;
water purification in rural villages; inter-ministerial action for building a sound water
circulation system; promoting agriculture for the preservation of the environment, and
cattle manures control are stressed.
The MAFF also drew up the Basic Plan on Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas for
promoting policy measures on the structural improvement of agriculture and
environmentally-friendly agriculture, so as to correspond to global developments. The
Cabinet of Japan endorsed it as a five-year governmental policy plan in March 2005. The
Basic Plan encourages working out a model of action for promoting agricultural
production harmonising with the environment, and introducing measures to support
farmers who put the model into practice from 2005. It also anticipates a support
programme for farmers who take drastic advanced action to reduce the impact of
agriculture on the environment in an environmentally sensitive area from 2007.
Ahead of the policy plans, advanced projects for reorganising agricultural water use
have been carried out since 1998. The MAFF implements 14 national projects for
48,500 ha of command area to develop systems, in parallel with renewing irrigation
facilities, for realising efficient water management and enhancing multi-functional roles
of irrigation such as recreation, bio-diversity, landscapes, groundwater recharge, and
water purification.
4.2 International Network for Water and Ecosystem in Paddy Fields (INWEPF)
On the occasion of the Third World Water Forum, the MAFF of Japan and the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) co-organised the Ministerial
Meeting on Water for Food and Agriculture in March 2003. The Ministerial
Recommendation highlighted three challenges: “Food Security and Poverty Alleviation”,
“Sustainable Water Use” and “Partnership.” The INWEPF was established in 2004, the
International Year of Rice, to provide a forum to realise the three challenges by
promoting dialogue, exchanging knowledge and experiences, creating synergy among
existing forums and strengthening capacity-building in agricultural water management in
paddy fields with due consideration for environmental aspects. Rice growing
countries/regions, international organisations, research institutions and donor agencies are
welcome to become members.
The INWEPF lists the members and participants, as of October 2005, including
Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal,
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam, Asian Development Bank Institute, Asian
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