Treated as an eccentric…
Minoru Ishii is an extremely famous figure in the world of organic farming, and he was featured in the NHK TV Show ”Professional – My Style of Work”. He is been involved organic farming for 40 years, when there were still only a few organic farmers. So, at the beginning, people regarded him with uncertainty.
”In those days, I was thought to be eccentric. It’s only recently that I am acknowledged for what I do.”
Nowadays, organic is a common word. We as consumers know the meaning of the word, and many people choose organic products. So naturally, more and more farmers practice organic farming. However, at the time Ishii started, even his fellow farmers called him an ”oddball”. Thanks to his efforts though, he was able to produce safe, wholesome, and of course delicious rice, which won prizes at the ”International Contest on Rice Taste Evaluation” for 5 consecutive years, and received the International ”Meito-Kai” Diamond Medal of honor, helping him to earn worldwide recognition.
The micro orgasms in the local soil is the best
Ishii’s paddy field is famous for ”golden weather loach”. What does that mean? You may wonder. There are golden weather loach in his rice field. That means the condition of the soil is extremely good.
”It makes many many years to achieve good soil condition. The end products taste very different depending on the soil conditions, even when everything is entirely organic.” said Ishii. It’s not just a matter of not using chemical fertilizers to make delicious and safe products. In order to create great soil conditions, he grows microorganisms and puts them in the soil.
”I’ve tried using many different microbes from all over the country, but it didn’t work. So I ended up using local microbes repeatedly, and the soil improved.” The microorganisms which have been thriving in an area for a long time are, afterall, best suited for that area.
Farming is fun
The most troublesome process in organic farming is weeding, he said. No agricultural chemicals are used, so weeds have to be patiently plucked. That is the toughest job. Recently, he found a way to weed more efficiently.
”It took me a long time. I wish I had thought of it sooner… ”
Even the specialist of organic farming still has a lot to discover. It is such a painstaking job, and he was even treated as an oddball at the beginning. Why does he do it? ”Because it’s fun.”
”Is farming tough?” asked Nakata. Ishii replied, ”No, farming is fun. But if a farmer says farming is tough, he is too soft. If you produce what consumers want it isn’t tough. I am free to do whatever I want to achieve that goal.”
He will continue his pursuit of organic farming. It’s nice to hear from him that he strives to produce what the customers want. It shows that he is always thinking of us, the consumers.
