A：“Dream Beauty” is the Chinese name of “Yume Ka Ori”but“Yume Ka Ori” and “Dream Beauty” do not have the same meaning. At first, Lian-Fa and Nakashimamio Chairman Chen Shui Sheng thought of “Dream Moon Rice” as the Chinese name for “Yume Ka Ori”but Nakashimamio Shoutenn believed that since “Dream Moon Rice” had already been registered by Lian-Fa, it was the patent right of Lian-Fa and problems related to sales might arise later on so Nakashimamio Shoutenn did not agree to the naming. Finally, “Dream Beauty” proposed by Nakashimamio Shoutenn was used as the trademark in Taiwan. As for Japan, “Taiwan Rice” is imprinted on rice packages. It is the only rice product that has such specifications.

Q：Why is “Dream Beauty” selected for planting？

A：According to Chairman Chen Shui Sheng as he was told, “Yume Ka Ori” is an old variety and is not considered high priced rice in Japan. However, Nakashimamio Shoutenn believed this type of rice to be ideal for Taiwan’s climatic conditions. In terms of commercial benefit, it is understandable why Nakashimamio Shoutenn was not willing to sell new Japanese rice variety to foreign countries at once because Japanese rice produced overseas is bound to be cheaper than locally produced rice. Once it is re-sold back in Japan, local rice will not be able to compete against it. It is like allowing 8-inch wafer to be produced in China and restricting 12-inch wafer to be manufactured there. It is as simple as that.

　

Q：How many hectares is the “Dream Beauty” production area? What restrictions are there for those rice fields? What testing are conducted?

A：The “Dream Beauty” special production area measures 52 hectares and is divided into three major sub-areas. The rice fields have to adjacent to each other. There should be access to Chia-Nan River Irrigation Channels and they should not be close to roads. In terms of operation, large area production mode is adopted including uniform production material purchase, uniform seedling growing, seedling transplanting, blight prevention, and harvest. Contrary to traditional small area tillage, it not only reduces production costs, but also enhances efficiency.

　

Dream Beauty production and sales  special area signboard setup	Special area class leaders and  Lian-Fa at a meeting

In addition, contract rice fields have to undergo soil and irrigation water source heavy metal testing. Soil sample is collected from every rice field unit of each class mixed into one (8 samples for 8 classes). Irrigation water sample is collected from Chia-Nan River. These two types of samples are tested by Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan and Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute, Council of Agriculture. Test results show that the numerical values of soil and irrigation water are far lower than the allowable standards regulated by Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan proving they are high quality rice fields.

Heavy metal content of Dream Beauty contract rice filed soil and irrigation water samples

Extracted from Jiang Ru-Guo, “Houbi Town Rice Dream Beauty Production and Sales Guidance”,

 Tainan Agricultural Research & Extension Station, COA.

　

Q：Which departments offer assistance？

A：In terms of production and sales of “ Dream Beauty”, other than Nakashimamio Shoutenn from Japan, Tainan Branch of Food and Agriculture Agency, Tainan District Agricultural Research & Extension Station, COA, and the County Government have all sent people to provision guidance. Food and Agriculture Agency was in charge of international production and sales integration while Nakashimamio Shoutenn offered Japanese rice cultivation technique sharing and sales approaches back in Japan. Agricultural Research & Extension Station, COA was in charge of production technical assistance, and record regulation operation procedures in Japan. The Tainan County Government was responsible for propaganda related services.

　

Chiayi Branch Chief Lin Guo-Chin  and Assistant Researcher Jiang  Ru-Guo of Agricultural Research  & Extension Station, COA  inspecting Rice Blast prevention	Technician Takiichirou of Nakashimamio Shoutenn stationed  in America inspecting rough  rice/paddy
Rice field technical supervisor  Segawasakahikoi inspecting rice  fields in Japan	Nakashimamio Shoutenn Business  Dept. head stationed in Taiwan  inspecting rice fields

 

Q：What things should peasants abide by？

A： For production and sales classes of “Dream Beauty”, Lian-Fa proposed price production and offered total purchase and acquisition. Rice growers are not pressured to reach certain production volume. However, they are asked to abide by Agricultural Research & Extension Station, COA setup production records during cultivation. Prior to production, Nakashimamio Shoutenn representative clearly expressed to the preparatory committee regarding the importance of production records. Therefore, Tainan Agricultural Research & Extension Station, COA referred to the features of “Dream Beauty” and production record regulations of both nations to formulate a production record for “Dream Beauty.” This set of production record has detailed specifications for stem interval during seedling transplant, fertilizer type, and usage, blight prevention time, and chemical usage. Peasants should abide by this set of standard operation procedure from seedling growing, land preparation, seedling transplanting, irrigation, blight prevention, to harvest. Furthermore, peasants should attend orientations prior to production and seminars during respective stages of production in order to understand the tips to rice cultivation at each stage.

　

Contract rice growers are obliged to  attend seminars	Report summary at the seminar
Japanese rice field Techinical  supervisor Segawasakahiko  giving a lecture	South District Head Chen Jing-Yu  of Food and Agriculture Agency  at the seminar