Re: [Pen-l] Japanese rice protection

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Isn't there a strong environmental sustainability argument for growing
> food locally? In the case of poor countries there is also a strong
> argument to be made for food self-sufficiency for national security
> and stability.
> -raghu.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masanobu_Fukuoka
Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka, born February 2, 1913, author of The One-Straw 
Revolution, The Road Back to Nature and The Natural Way Of Farming, 
is one of the pioneers of no-till grain cultivation. His system is 
referred to as "natural farming", Fukuoka Farming, or the Fukuoka Method.

Trained as a microbiologist in his native Japan, he began his career 
as a soil scientist specializing in plant pathology. At age 25, he 
began to doubt the wisdom of modern agricultural science. He 
eventually quit his job as a research scientist, and returned to his 
family's farm on the island of Shikoku in Southern Japan to grow 
organic mikans. From that point on he devoted his life to developing 
a unique small scale organic farming system that does not require 
weeding, pesticide or fertilizer applications, or tilling.

The timing and circumstances of Fukuoka's conversion from Western 
agricultural science, parallels the new movement in the 1940s to 
organic farming and gardening in Europe and the US, led by pioneers 
like Lady Eve Balfour, Sir Albert Howard, and J.I. Rodale (founder of 
Rodale Press). However Fukuoka himself believes that he is going a 
step further than organic farming:

"The problem, however, is that most people do not yet understand the 
distinction between organic gardening and natural farming. Both 
scientific agriculture and organic farming are basically scientific 
in their approach. The boundary between the two is not clear." (The 
Road Back to Nature page 363)

At age 94, Fukuoka still manages to lecture when he can, such as at 
the Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Fukuoka practices a system of farming he refers to as "natural 
farming." Although some of his practices are specific to Japan, the 
governing philosophy of his method has successfully been applied 
around the world. In India, natural farming is often referred to as 
"Rishi Kheti."

The essence of Fukuoka's method is to reproduce natural conditions as 
closely as possible. There is no plowing, as the seed germinates 
quite happily on the surface if the right conditions are provided. 
There is also considerable emphasis on maintaining diversity. A 
ground cover of white clover grows under the grain plants to provide 
nitrogen. Weeds (and Daikons) are also considered part of the 
ecosystem, periodically cut and allowed to lie on the surface so the 
nutrients they contain are returned to the soil. Ducks are let into 
the grain plot, and specific insectivorous carp into the rice paddy 
at certain times of the year to eat slugs and other pests.

The ground is always covered. As well as the clover and weeds, there 
is the straw from the previous crop, which is used as mulch, and each 
grain crop is sown before the previous one is harvested. This is done 
by broadcasting the seed among the standing crop. Also he 
re-introduced the ancient technique of seed balls (???,????,Tsuchi 
Dango {Earth Dumpling}). The seed for next season's crop is mixed 
with clay, compost, and sometimes manure, and formed into small 
balls. The result is a denser crop of smaller but highly productive 
and stronger plants.

Fukuoka's method and philosophy is about small scale farming, yet he 
claims "With this kind of farming, which uses no machines, no 
prepared fertilizer and no chemicals, it is possible to attain a 
harvest equal to or greater than that of the average Japanese farm." 
(The one-straw revolution page 3).

Quotes

"If we throw mother nature out the window, she comes back in the door 
with a pitchfork."

"When a decision is made to cope with the symptoms of a problem, it 
is generally assumed that the corrective measures will solve the 
problem itself. They seldom do. Engineers cannot seem to get this 
through their heads. These countermeasures are all based on too 
narrow a definition of what is wrong. Human measures and 
countermeasures proceed from limited scientific truth and judgment. A 
true solution can never come about in this way."

"Natural farming is not just for growing crops, it is for the 
cultivation and perfection of human beings.

"Giving up your ego is the shortest way to unification with nature." 

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