JAPANESE INVESTMENT Aust. farming suggestion

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32885, 7 April 1972, Page 9

JAPANESE INVESTMENT Aust. farming suggestion

(N .Z.PJt.-Reuter—Copyright) KYOTO (Japan), April 6. Proposals were to be presented to an annual Australia-Japan businessmen’s conference in Kyoto today that Japan should increase its investments and participation in joint ventures in Australian agriculture.

Mr Hideshi Kagawa, an i adviser to the leading trad- < ing company of Toyamenka, was presenting a paper I which noted the untapped I potential for Japanese in- i volvement in the agricul- 1 tural field, just as it is now I

investing in mining and other industries. He said that ’the Australian Government was undertaking a policy to try to switch production of wheat to other crops, particularly feed grains, in order to reduce the amount of wheat subsidy it is now paying farmers. Mr Kagawa continued: "In Japan, the demand for compound feed for animals made from feed grain is expected to reach 20 million tons by 1975, though most of it is now coming from the United States. “To switch the source of supply from the United States to Australia, certain requirements would have to be met such as larger size of carrier vessels, and modification of inadequate Australian ports to handle these vessels. "But before this the problens of irrigation would have to be solved. Grain storage facilities are also insufficient” Mr Kagawa said that he 1 hoped the Australian Govem- ; ment would tackle these ■ problems by establishing ■ marketing boards to expanci 1 exports. If this was done s there would be little need • for Australia-Japan joint operations.