Japan: Fukushima Tobacco Farmers Prepare to Ship

Source from:  Yomiuri Shimbun 09/25/2012

Farmers in Fukushima Prefecture have harvested leaf tobacco for the first time since cultivation was temporarily stopped due to the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, and are making preparations to ship the product around December. This year, leaf tobacco farmers enthusiastic about reviving the product took measures to reduce the effects of radioactive substances. Currently, the farmers are awaiting the results of radiation tests on harvested tobacco leaves, and are pinning their hopes on making shipments this year. In Fukushima Prefecture, farmers grow two kinds of leaf tobacco--a native species and burley leaves. In fiscal 2010, about 1,770 tons of tobacco leaves with recorded sales of about 3.24 billion yen were harvested in the prefecture, the eighth largest in the nation. Due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster and Japan Tobacco Inc. soliciting farmers willing to quit leaf tobacco farming, the number of farmers in the prefecture dropped from 1,167 in 2011 to 675. Total farmland also fell from about 900 hectares to about 620 hectares. "We've got high-quality tobacco this year," Naoya Ohashi said after he finished harvesting his 130-hectare farm in Tamura in the prefecture. In April last year, he disposed of about 30,000 tobacco seedlings after the prefecture's tobacco producers union requested farmers halt planting due to fears of soil contamination. Seven years ago, Ohashi, 27, took over the farm from his grandparents to preserve their farmland. He was proud of providing a stable supply of leaf tobacco that was resistant to various diseases. He said he was devastated when he had to dispose of so many seedlings. However, Ohashi wanted to continue life as a tobacco farmer. He visited farming acquaintances in Aomori, Miyazaki and Akita prefectures. He stayed with them for three months, helping them plant seedlings and harvest tobacco leaves. By doing so, he soothed his frustrations of not being able to touch the soil on his own farm. In January, Ohashi signed a contract to grow leaf tobacco with JT as only a relatively small amount of radioactive substances was found on his farm, and started planting seedlings in March. Ohashi made various efforts to reduce contamination in the tobacco leaves. He planted wheat between ridges to prevent radioactive materials in the soil from splashing onto the plants when it rains. He also cleared away dead leaves believed to be contaminated with substances from his farm. "Thanks to the fine weather, the condition of the leaves is excellent," Ohashi said. However, there are some concerns. JT--the same company to which Ohashi plans to ship his tobacco leaves--is conducting checks for radioactive substances on each farmer's products. If one farmer's product registers radioactive cesium levels exceeding the government's regulatory limit of 100 becquerels per kilogram for general food items, JT will not purchase the leaves of any farmer in that town or village. According to the prefecture's tobacco producers union, of Fukushima's 675 leaf tobacco farmers, 318 were unable to harvest tobacco leaves because they did not have contracts with JT. The results of monitoring checks are expected to be released around mid-October. "For the people who support me, I want to promote leaf tobacco produced in Fukushima Prefecture," Ohashi said. "But what do I do if I have to dispose of the leaves again? I'm not sure I could keep up the motivation to cultivate my farm again next year." Enditem