Soaring prices for farm inputs, driven by global petrochemical supply chain disruptions, are putting severe financial pressure on fruit growers in Yamagata Prefecture, one of Japan’s key farming hubs.
Prices for essential farm materials, from fertilizers to windbreak nets and packaging supplies, have climbed on the back of Middle East tensions, squeezing profit margins for local growers.
70‑year‑old Inage Jun has run an orchard in Yamagata for nearly 15 years. As his cherries and peaches ripen for the summer harvest, he is feeling the sting of rising costs firsthand.
"We usually place our orders for farm supplies at the beginning of spring, and prices have indeed gone up by more than 20 percent. "It's not just basic farm materials. Disinfectants and pesticides that used to cost 2,000 to 3,000 yen (about 12 to 18 U.S. dollars) now commonly cost 4,000 to 5,000 yen (about 24 to 30 U.S. dollars) . The price hike is substantial, and I feel it creates considerable pressure on farm management," said Inage.
The surge in prices saw sharp increases in June. Beyond fertilizers, costs rose for crop‑protection and logistics materials. This saw windbreak nets, greenhouse films, fruit cartons and plastic boxes soaring 10 to 20 percent.
Kensuke Takahashi of the Japanese Agricultural Group Yamagata said rising costs affect nearly all local growers.
"The surge in fertilizer prices has a massive impact on farmers. Fertilizer is an absolute necessity every year, whether for growing rice or crops like the cherries cultivated around here. Every crop relies on it, so the financial burden on farmers has become quite heavy," said Takahashi.
"These are the plastic packaging boxes used for cherries. Compared to last year, customers are all saying the price has gone up significantly. As for how things will turn out in the future, we just don't know yet," Takahashi continued.
Rising input costs strain farmers in Japan's Yamagata
