JAPANS FOOD NEEDS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28051, 20 August 1956, Page 14

JAPANS FOOD NEEDS

PROSPECTS OF TRADE WITH N.Z.

MR R. B. TENNENT EXPECTS INCREASE

(New Zeatana Preus Association) WELLINGTON, August 19.

A market for New Zealand dairy products in Japan is predicted by the Assistant Director-General of Agriculture (Mr R. B. Tennent). who has returned from a visit to Japan, where he advised on methods of stimulating livestock production.

“I am satisfied,” he said, “the development of the livestock industry in Japan will ultimately benefit New Zealand’s export trade, particularly in dairy products and meat. “Our seed trade will benefit because the Japanese are fully alive to the value of high-quality strains of grasses and clovers. I have no doubt that the demand for New Zealand seeds will be considerable.”

Mr Tennent said Japanese manufacturers were anxious to enter into contracts for casein, and the possibilities for skim milk powder sales appeared to be considerable.

Mr Tennent said Japan’s desire to develop its livestock industry was the outcome of necessity. The country was not self-supporting in essential foodstuffs and had to bring in 6,000,000 to 7,000.000 tons of grains and foods to enable her population to live. Japan was only one-third larger than New Zealand yet had a population of 88.000.000. which was increasing by 1.000.000 a year, he said. Half the population was engaged in farming, and yet this large number was confined to a small area, for only 14 per cent, of the land was cultivated. The average farm was two acres, compared with 4*75 acres in New Zealand. said Mr Tennent. The Japanese Government was encouraging development of waste land, particularly in dairy farming, and was utilising heavy machinery. Mr Tennent said the dietary habits of the Japanese were rapidly changing and milk and milk products were b*»ing used more extensively. Lack of refrigerated ships was an obstacle to developing trade in dairy products and meat with the East, said Mr Tennent. He understood the Nitto Line would next year put on a ship with refrigerated space.