April 19, 2007

Global warming affects fish farms and agricultural production in Japan

Rising temperatures are reducing agricultural  yields at home and raising prices of fishmeal abroad, according to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.

Higher temperatures have raised prices of fishmeal from South America, as shoals of anchovies become more expensive. The development has affected fish farms across Japan, which rely heavily on it for feed.

Japan imports 80 percent of its fishmeal requirements from South America.

The fourth evaluation report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, adopted by the United Nations, warned that many people will have to dramatically change their way of life as extreme temperatures and drought affect many parts of the world.

Japan's reliance on food imports means it is vulnerable to changes in external markets.

Peruvian fishmeal production dropped by 3 million tonnes last year, compared to 2005, thus nearly doubling the price of fishmeal in Japan, adding further to the burdens of fish farmers.

Some farms have reported a 20-percent rise in costs since last year. 

On agricultural production, rice harvests in the Kyushu region in southern Japan have been poor for the past four years, while the quality of much of this rice also has fallen. An increasing number of rice harvests are being rated second- and third-grade.

Last year, the total crop yields of rice in some areas fell to below half of what would be expected in an average year. The lower yields have been attributed to the high temperatures between late August and early September, when rice grains mature.
 

Agriculture experts predict a fall of up to 40 percent in rice production in Japan.

The UN also warned that rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns could lower agricultural productivity, resulting in serious food shortages in Asia.