OREANDA-NEWS. November 19, 2012. Japanese mass media is one of the developed in the world. The country takes the first place in a weekly newspapers circulation – 1 copy per thousand persons. Japan also enters top ten leading countries in the quantity of printed publications (books and magazines) per one person. Despite TV popularity, the newspapers remain the main source of information for the Japanese people. There are trade newspapers among them, including agricultural ones. About 80% of citizens read the press. Where else could be found a country with the daily newspaper “The Japan Agricultural News” published 7 days a week with a circulation of 360 000 copies? Most of its readers are farmers, agricultural related industries, and governmental officials. It is owned by Japan Agricultural Cooperatives.

Senior writer of “The Japan Agricultural News” newspaper, Vice President of the Union of Agricultural Journalists (as a part of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists) Yamada Masaru visited Ukraine. It was his first visit not only to our country but also to the former Soviet Union territory. The main reason that forced him to fly half the world is a great interest in Ukrainian agriculture. The country with very limited natural resources has to import large quantity of food stuff, including grain crops. The Japanese people did not wear kimono and did not eat only rice and fish, though the latter is their traditional food, for a long time. Modern Japanese want to eat meat and milk but they do not have any resources for fodder supplies. Fodder is delivered from all over the world, this year there have been supplied above 500 thousand tons of Ukrainian corn. Masaru Yamada wanted to see with his own eyes and to describe in his articles the way grain crops are grown, harvested and transported to Japan and also to inform the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists about his visit.

It is possible to receive all the required information at the transshipment terminal of “Pereyaslavs’ka” branch of “NIBULON” located near Kyiv city. The eyes of the Japanese colleague began to increase when he saw the silver cylinders touching the sky and an endless chain of powerful trucks loaded with golden corn. The corn harvest is in full swing and where the harvest should be transported but to the up-to-date elevator complex? Consequently, the transshipment terminal, located on the Dnipro River bank, one of 22 analogous facilities, operates on a 24-hour basis receiving and processing grain that will be shipped on the non-self-propelled vessels of “NIBULON’s” own fleet. The Japanese guest was shown in detail the process of grain receipt and storage, he walked up the silos top to enjoy the view and to appraise the elevator complex.

He was particularly interested in the control laboratory. Mr Yamada has a PhD in agricultural communications – Japan has such a specialty. But he is not so experienced specialist as, for example, professional grain importers. Moreover, Japanese agriculture is rather specific and does not look like ours. But being a specialist in the international agricultural news, he visited Europe and America and, consequently, can compare. The Japanese journalist was noticed to be impressed by the equipment and possibilities of “NIBULON’s” laboratory.

He was also amazed by the highly qualified workers. As not only in Japan people realize that modern analyzers and computers cannot operate properly without educated and experienced personnel. Therefore, he was interested in education and qualification of people who support the laboratory complex. Masaru Yamada did not hide his surprise having found out that a tender girl who was demonstrating the equipment possibilities has the qualitative higher education. He did not know that “NIBULON” trusts young specialists and the laboratory head Olena Gul’ko, looking like a senior high achiever, is a 27-year-old experienced processing engineer. She acquired proper knowledge in Odesa National Academy of Food Technologies. Besides, every year “NIBULON’s” staff undergoes advanced training mastering the latest achievements of science and engineering, including grain processing.

Particular attention to the world agricultural markets was arisen by the peculiarities of Japanese agrarian production caused by Japan’s geographical location and climate. Japan’s agricultural land comprises 13% of its territory – about 6 mln ha, but a sown area is larger because in some regions of the country people grow 2-3 harvests per year. More than half of this land is water fields that are used for rice growing. In Japan rice is cultivated forcedly: most of agricultural land is located in zones where the annual amount of precipitation is 2000 mm and there are areas where the figure reaches 3000-5000 mm. For comparison: in Kyiv city the annual rainfall is 620 mm, thus it is possible to imagine what Japanese showers are.

The intensive agriculture is peculiar to Japan as agricultural land is small – 1-2 ha. These areas are cultivated by many farmers without using any large agricultural machinery but with application of natural or chemical fertilizers. As the country lacks flat areas, a lot of land is located on hill terraces that also complicates the use of machinery.

We asked who exported grain crops to Japan. The guest told us that despite difficult relations with our continental neighbour, an import from China comprises about 20%. The USA exported 10% to Japan. This year the first parcel of corn has come from Ukraine.

In general, genetically modified crops are not prohibited in Japan, although the country does not grow them, the custom house does not control GMO presence. That is why Mr Yamada admired the up-to-date laboratory at “NIBULON’s” transshipment terminal which can determine GMO contents in grain crops. Our guest, besides a dictaphone record of English translation, wrote down the most important information. This record became the second one after writing down the technologies and equipment which are used to perform an expertise of grain for export. It should be noted that Japan uses agricultural import for feeding or for production of mixed feed for livestock sector. Therefore, the country considers it impossible to use deficit and expensive agricultural crops in order to make bioethanol, but almost one third of Japanese import falls on energy supplies.

An excursion within the terminal impressed our guest. He sincerely confessed that he did not expect to see such greatness, detailed calculation of location and operation of facilities and absolute cleanness everywhere. He watched very carefully the process of corn unloading and how the powerful vacuum cleaners were absorbing dust. The guest explained he saw such elevators in other countries (without naming them) where the surrounding areas were covered with corn skins that caused discomfort to the society and ecology. Thus, Mr Masaru was completely satisfied with the fact that Ukrainian ecological inspection advances strict conditions as to construction of elevator complexes and “NIBULON” is an example of compliance with these requirements. He also put it down in his notebook.

At that time one of 28 “NIBULON’s” non-self-propelled vessels was being loaded at the terminal. The journalist found out that these vessels are not only the grain transport means but also a real elevator on water with capacity of 4.5 thousand tons each. He also wanted to see one of “NIBULON’s” tugs, but the vessel was in the roads. The journalist was informed about unique fleet construction and its possibilities.

Taking into account that Japan is one of the most producible countries and its construction speed plays a determinant role, the terms of elevator construction in Pereyaslav-Khmel’nyts’kyy town impressed the journalist. He noticed the photo of a solemn ceremony of the foundation laying on April 12, 2012 and a solemn putting into operation of the facility with participation of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov and numerous respectable guests on July 26, 2012. He photographed them. Artem Novokhat’ko, the terminal’s director, told the journalist about the stages of elevator construction and its round-the-clock work. The journalist asked whether “NIBULON’s” management was not afraid of appointing young specialists. He was explained that since “NIBULON’s” foundation, about 20 years ago, General Director Oleksiy Vadaturskyy stakes on experienced specialists to be trained by the company.

Before his arrival at the terminal, Mr Masaru was learning “NIBULON’s” album and its investment project in English. He decided not to make inquires about “NIBULON’s” activities but he couldn’t help asking about Ukraine’s visit card - the transshipment terminal of Mykolayiv city. He was impressed by the story and thanked Artem for the photo of Ukraine’s transshipment terminal.

Our guest promised that all his impressions will be published in his newspaper and the Japanese copies will be sent to Ukraine. He will translate the text in English and send it to us and to the information center of the International Federation of Agrarian Journalists (IFAJ).

Masaru Yamada’s visit is just one swallow that does not make a summer. But hospitality and achievements of the Ukrainian people amazed him pleasantly, thus, it is worth waiting for a large group of agrarian journalists who will want to tell their compatriots about our country, its agrarian and export potential. Unfortunately, even Mr Yamada, being an educated person, associated Ukraine with Chernobyl and humus which we cannot use properly. It is high time to destroy stereotypes, to expand horizons of our export and cooperation with the most distant countries. Japan is one of the world’s economic leaders and it is worth struggling for its attention, besides, we have a lot to propose.