Trends and Future Perspectives of Organized Farms in Japan

This paper discussed the types of farm enterprises, recent trends of them entry into and establishment of farming business in Japan. The cooperative farm corporations (CFCs) that are controlled by the Agricultural Cooperatives Act have been distinguished from the enterprises that are controlled by the Code of Commerce. Distinctions and characteristics are evaluated along the historical backgrounds. Not many but young willing farmers are increasingly converting their business form into CFCs and expanding business size either by horizontal or vertical ways. Agribusiness enterprises are entering to include the production. However, their interest products are limited. Particularly staple food supply is entrusted much to CFCs and traditional family farms as usual. Emphasis must be placed to encourage CFCs since CFCs play important public roles in the rural community. One suggestion is to make arrangements so that CFCs can join enterprises and work together complementary.Farm Management,

Technical efficiency of olive oil manufacturing and efficacy of modernization programme in Tunisia

This study investigates firm level technical efficiency of production and its determinants in a sample of 137 olive oil manufacturing firms in Tunisia using a stochastic frontier production model applied to cross-section data. Results indicate that technical efficiency of production in the sample of olive oil manufacturing firms investigated ranges from a minimum of 47.1% to a maximum 99.5% with an average technical efficiency estimate of 86.5%. This implies olive oil manufacturing firms in Tunisia can increase their production on average by 13.5% through more efficient use of technology and production inputs. The fact that 93 firms represented more than 64.4% of the sample hit more than 80% of technical efficiency score implies the efficacy of modernization programme implemented in Tunisia. The estimated coefficients in the technical inefficiency effects model indicate that level of technology, frequent use of computer and internet, the owner’s age, the share of skilled labour, the employment of management staff, and the input sourcing by the own production have a significant and positive effect on technical efficiency. On the other hand, negative relationships are found between technical efficiency and entrepreneur dummy variable, continuous relationship with the suppliers in the same district, and with the private sector and trader as customers. These results imply that the adoption of new technology, accumulation of skill and knowledge as well as stable input sourcing contribute to improve the technical efficiency of olive oil manufacturing.olive oil manufacturing, stochastic frontier production function, technical efficiency, modernization programme, Tunisia, Crop Production/Industries,

The effects of Information and Country of Origin on Japanese Olive Oil Consumer Selection

Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Trends and Future Perspectives of Organized Farms in Japan

This paper discussed the types of farm enterprises, recent trends of them entry into and establishment of farming business in Japan. The cooperative farm corporations (CFCs) that are controlled by the Agricultural Cooperatives Act have been distinguished from the enterprises that are controlled by the Code of Commerce. Distinctions and characteristics are evaluated along the historical backgrounds. Not many but young willing farmers are increasingly converting their business form into CFCs and expanding business size either by horizontal or vertical ways. Agribusiness enterprises are entering to include the production. However, their interest products are limited. Particularly staple food supply is entrusted much to CFCs and traditional family farms as usual. Emphasis must be placed to encourage CFCs since CFCs play important public roles in the rural community. One suggestion is to make arrangements so that CFCs can join enterprises and work together complementary