Factors in the Shipment of Hokkaido Wheat to Distribution without Utilizing Agricultural Cooperatives : A Case Study of Three Minor Grain Wholesalers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence producersʼ shipments to distribution without utilizing agricultural cooperatives in Hokkaido. In recent years, the percentage of distribution without utilizing agricultural cooperatives for Hokkaido wheat has increased, and minor grain wholesalers are responsible for a large portion of this increase. There have been three cases of minor grain wholesalers and three cases of contract farmers in Hokkaido. The research method was an interview survey, which enabled us to identify five factors: an increase in product volume, acquisition of information, interaction with actual consumers, trust in minor grain wholesalers, and expectations for future changes. We also uncovered a variety of effects that are expected to be seen in the domestic wheat industry. These effects include an increase in options for producers, competition between minor grain wholesalers and agricultural cooperatives, and a reduction in the gap between the supply and demand of domestically produced wheat by shortening the distance between producers and actual consumers.本研究の目的は，北海道内の生産者の商系流通への出荷要因を明らかにすることである．近年，北海道産小麦の商系流通割合が増加しており，その大部分を雑穀卸が担っている．事例は，北海道内の雑穀卸商3社と各契約農家3軒である．調査方法は聞き取り調査である．結果として，出荷要因としては，製品量の増加，情報の取得，実需者との交流，雑穀卸との信頼関係，今後の変化に対する期待の⚕点にまとめることができた．また，商系流通は小麦業界にさまざまな影響を与えることも考えられる．具体的には，生産者の選択肢が増え，集荷業者と農協との間で競争が起こること，生産者と実需者との距離が縮まることで，国産小麦の需給ギャップの解消などであ