Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

5.4 Varietal Diversity and Consumer NeedsCrop diversification efforts should not be limited to crop species choice. Geneticdifferences within the same crop species make an important contribution in meeting differentproduction constraints and consumer needs. There is a strong interest among consumers innew products, especially in relation to novelty and better health.The emphasis on productivity and profitability tends to reduce the number ofvarieties grown in farmers’ fields. In the case of wheat, rice, soybeans, potatoes, sweetpotatoes and apples, the top five varieties dominate more than 50 percent of areas grown tothose species. The tendency of over-dominance of a few major varieties is escalating inmany crops.New types of crop variety are needed to meet new markets. For example, theMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries initiated a new project on the development ofnovelty rice varieties, creating new demands in 1989. The project has developed manyinteresting and useful findings and varieties, including rice varieties with very high or verylow content of amylose. Amylose is the key factor for determining cooking quality andadaptability for processing. Aromatic rice and coloured rice with adaptation to Japanesegrowing conditions and consumer preferences were also successfully developed. Theintroduction of a rice variety with low allergen for those allergic to rice and a rice varietywith low protein for those with kidney problems were especially welcomed by society.Through similar efforts, glutinous wheat was recently developed, with the major selling pointof higher quality for noodles.6. GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND STRATEGIES FOR CROPDIVERSIFICATIONThe Cabinet has adopted The Basic Law on Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas. Theobjective of this Law is to stabilize and improve people's lifestyle and to develop the nationaleconomy through comprehensively and systematically implementing policies on food,agriculture and rural areas. This will be accomplished by establishing basic principles andbasic matters for realizing them and clarifying the responsibilities of the state and localgovernments. It has four basic principles, namely securing stable food supply, fulfillment ofmultifunctional roles, sustainable agricultural development, and development of rural areas.The Japanese government gives due importance to assisting developing countries fortheir socio-economic development. Japan has been the largest supplier of OfficialDevelopment Assistance (ODA) in the last several years. Japan has contributed 38 percentof foreign aid in the area of agriculture and food in the world (Figure 4) reflecting its view ofagriculture as the key engine of socio-economic stability and development.International cooperation in the food and agricultural fields is very important indealing with food problems, relieving poverty in developing countries, and realizingsustainable development. Japan, as one of the world's leading contributors to foreign aid,should further promote various forms of cooperation and partnership among governmentagencies, as well as make effective evaluations of project efficiency, with the view ofcarrying out more effective and efficient international cooperation. It is important here toengage in such activities in line with the WTO agricultural negotiations.58