Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/84666

This paper clarifies the mechanism and factors behind the establishment of centralized supply demand adjustment for sake-brewing rice produced in Hokkaido. The centralized supply-demand adjustment led by Hokuren, a federation of agricultural cooperatives in Hokkaido, consists of the unification of prices for all sake-brewing rice varieties, research on the demand in sake-brewers, and the distribution of the producing quota to each agricultural cooperative. The factors for the establishment of such supply-demand adjustment are as follows: 1) Hokuren is positioned by laws and ordinances as the leader in seed production; 2) Hokuren has played a central role in the development of sake-brewing rice production in Hokkaido; 3) Hokuren maintains a large share of rice produced in Hokkaido and can use existing facilities; and 4) direct interactions between sake-brewers and rice-growers are promoted, making it possible to take in-depth measures to improve quality.