Rice farmers use the rice center for regional common use! Case Study of a Tent Warehouse Using Subsidies│ Interview with Company

Kato Farm Co., Ltd. is an up-and-coming company established in 2014 that grows rice in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture. As an agricultural production corporation, Katoh Farm is actively engaged in new initiatives aimed not only at producing delicious rice, but also at boosting local agriculture as a whole. One example is the sale of rice through their online store.

Katoh Farm, Inc. has adopted a “tent warehouse” to build a rice center (a harvesting facility that performs four stages of rice cultivation: receiving, drying, firring, sorting, and shipping), which is an important part of rice cultivation.

We interviewed Mr. Kato, the representative of the company, about how they came to introduce the “Tent Warehouse” and its advantages, as only a farmer’s perspective can.

Table of Contents

1. Background of introduction

2. Good points about using the Rice Center

3. Taiyo Kogyo’s support system

4. Points of concern

5. Farmers who can recommend “Tent Warehouse”.

6. Summary

How did you come to introduce the Tent Warehouse?

We have been planning to build a rice center for about three years, which resulted in the introduction of “tent warehouses. Fukushima City had no rice center to begin with, and we had been stressing the importance of such a center to the prefectural government and local organizations, but they were reluctant to act. Then I had no choice but to build one myself! That was the beginning of the project.

As a community, we assume that the rice farmers are getting very old and many of them will retire in the next few years. In this context, we thought that a rice center was essential for ourselves and the local people who would take over those rice paddies. As a company, we are also thinking about boosting local agriculture, so we felt that we absolutely had to take this kind of action, and we were working on it.

We learned about the “tent warehouse” option through a proposal from an architectural firm and a consulting company. We decided to use this type of warehouse because it was much cheaper than other types of facilities, had good functionality, and could be equipped with the necessary facilities without any problems. We trusted them on this point, so we had no concerns.

Originally, I had not thought about subsidies myself. It was when an architectural firm gave us advice on subsidies and introduced us to a consulting firm that was able to help us. Since we had been planning to build a rice center for some time, the timing was just right, and we were able to move right along in the direction of utilizing the subsidies. The “tent warehouse” was also recommended to us as part of the grant application process. We had heard that it was high quality and low cost, and that it could be used to apply for subsidies.

As we were studying the “production area power-up subsidy,” a large framework worth tens of millions of yen, we were able to obtain approval for the construction of the rice center at a meeting of the Northern Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Office. The aging of the local farming population had necessitated some sort of measure for the future of local agriculture, and we were able to gain their approval as if the times had finally caught up with us. This push, or rather the consensus building of the community, was also important for the grant application, so the timing was good.

The Rice Center itself took a long time to plan, but once the grant was coordinated, the rest was quick.

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What are some of the advantages of using Tent Warehouse for the Rice Center?

First of all, in terms of cost, the fact that the cost was lower than expected was significant. Although we did not decide on the price because we left some aspects to consulting firms and others, I believe it is an advantage that makes it worth recommending.

One very nice aspect of the facility’s usability is that it has no middle columns. I found it to be the perfect place to work, as it allows for effective use of the space without excess space. Since the Rice Center needs to accommodate large machinery, I think it is a perfect product as far as space is concerned. The other thing I like about it is that it doesn’t let the heat through. Even when we are installing machinery in the summer, I feel that the heat from the sunlight does not get inside. With white vinyl tents, it is easy for heat to accumulate, but this is not the case with the Tent Warehouse. I have heard that the reflective effect of the membrane material is strong, and I have actually experienced this effect.

What about the support system?

Even though we were working through a consulting company, we were able to proceed very smoothly with the manufacturer. Various decisions were made quickly, and the processing of paperwork was handled promptly, so the process was hassle-free, fast, and very smooth. I have no complaints at all about the response.

On the other hand, do you have any concerns?

Currently, I don’t have anything in particular, but if I had to guess, I’d say I’m concerned about how much it will cost in the future when it’s time to replace them. However, I hear that it will be about 20 years from now, so I am not concerned about it at this point.

Finally, what kind of farmers would you recommend "Tent Warehouse" to?

If you are a farmer, it depends on your position in the community. The need for such facilities may vary depending on the position of the farmer and his/her position in the community. In my case, I used a “tent warehouse” as a rice center because it was necessary for my position. The quality of the “tent warehouse” is perfect, so if there is a need to build a facility, I think it would be a good idea to consider it as a candidate.

Thank you, Katoh Farms Inc.

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