The opening of Japanese immigration in Paraguay, which occurred in 1936, took place under the government of Colonel Rafael Franco, for this purpose the following clause was established in which the government of Paraguay accepted 100 Japanese agricultural families on an experimental basis. . The Colonizing Company of Paraguay, PARATAKU*, established for this purpose in the country. For an adequate order in the development of the colony, he had first brought immigrant guides from Brazil so that, with their previous experiences, they could guide those who later arrived from Japan. Among them came Kichigoro Moriya, an expert in cotton plantations, as Paraguay had been one of the main exporters of that sector in South America.

In this way, both the colonizer and the immigrants, faithful to the initial contract, dedicated themselves to agriculture. Despite many difficulties overcome such as frost, drought, invasion of locusts, geographical isolation, immigrants have set an example of industriousness and quality of their products, through diversity and the option of planting other species of seed crops. that they had brought from distant Japan, such as soybeans, which only Japanese families consumed. The interaction and solidarity in sharing the crops and their products between the different families was interesting. All possible harvest foods were savored, converted into Japanese delicacies. Each home made its own miso, soy sauce, tofu, nattoo and the inevitable mochi and sushi for the new year and wagashi for weddings.

While the immigrants of the second stage of immigration, that is, those who arrived after the Second World War, were also farmers and established agricultural colonies in the rich area of ​​the south east of Paraguay with red soil, suitable for agriculture. It was impressive to observe, during the beginning of colonization (1955-1960) when there was still no paved route to those settlements, the red dust that was raised on the road with the passage of the engines, which did not allow us to see even ten meters per mile. front and, which caused redness from the head to the underwear. On rainy days it turned into very slippery red mud that hindered traffic.

In the 1950s, virgin forests covered more than 3/4 of the national territory and it was necessary to cut down trees to prepare land suitable for agriculture. In those times, there were no demands for reforestation or ecological protection as a government program. On plane trips, the intense green color of the forests of Paraguay was observed when crossing the border with Brazil. Because they are virgin soils, agriculture soon flourished in those areas with incredible exuberance. Its main production was soybeans, wheat, corn, sorghum, a variety of fruit trees, macadamia and vegetables, with a special impact on tomato cultivation to the point that all Paraguayans said; “Since the Japanese came we eat tomatoes all year round.”

Agricultural cooperatives and their social and economic impact

12 years after the founding of the first Japanese colony, the Agricultural Cooperative was created in La Colmena with a total of 74 members, which made it possible to reactivate the production and marketing of its products and implement some agricultural and fruit extraction factories. Likewise, in 1952, due to the considerable production of cotton between the Japanese and Paraguayans, large cotton collectors were installed and it was considered Paraguayan "white gold" among the best in the world.

The work of the agricultural cooperative was of great importance in the community both in terms of social and educational aid such as the construction of roads and the opening of the secondary school in La Colmena. In 1973 it received a special mention from the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Henando Bertoni, for considering it as a cooperative model in Paraguay and for the agroindustrial development it promoted.

As has been noted, post-war immigration began in 1954, a time in which Paraguay was involved in constant internal revolutions and economic instability. Therefore, the creation of agricultural cooperatives in each colony was a priority, taking into account the successful model of La Colmena, they were created as the new colonies in the country were organized. In 1984, the Central Cooperative Nikkei Agricultural Limited was created, bringing together six existing cooperatives from the Japanese colonies. Its first president was Yoshihiko Koda who gave the entity sufficient guarantee and prosperity to achieve success.

Among the main achievements achieved by Japanese cooperatives the following can be mentioned:
- Unity of criteria for achieving a common objective.
- Improvement of agricultural production through mechanization and “direct sowing.”
- Marketing of your products in the national and international market.
- Improvement of soybean seed quality, through support from JICA
(Japan International Cooperation Agency).
- Industrialization of your products.
- Access to credits from national banks and JICA.
- Converts agricultural production to Paraguay as the main source of foreign currency income for the country.

What in the sixties, the cultivation of soybeans was almost exclusive to all the Japanese colonies, has now become Paraguay's main export item and one of the largest soybean exporters in the world.

In almost all the countries of the Americas, the activities of the early Japanese immigrants were in agriculture, horticulture and fruit growing and in some countries floriculture. This was, both in the north and in the south. Only, currently the countries where more than 50% of the Japanese and Nikkei population dedicate themselves to agriculture are Bolivia and Paraguay, and then comes Brazil. This important food item is so significant in protecting the future of the planet's inhabitants and these Japanese and Nikkei continue to produce quality and excellence with so much dedication and necessary care that it is, without a doubt, a guarantee for all consumers.

Note:
* PARATAKU is the subsidiary of the Brazilian Takushoku Kumiai, BRATAKU (Brataku is the subsidiary of BRATAKU) which in turn depended on TAKUMUSHO, Ministry of Emigration of Japan. It was founded in Paraguay in 1936 with the purpose of organizing Japanese immigration for the first time in the country. His tasks consisted of the management with the Government of Paraguay, the search for the land, the planning of the colony and his subsequent assistance in the settlement of the Japanese in La Colmena.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Inter-American Development Bank. In When the East Came to the Americas. Chapter 12. Paraguay. Agricultural cooperatives and the soybean boom. By Emi Kasamatsu. Washington DC 2005.

Kasamatsu Emi. The Japanese presence in Paraguay. Paraguayan Studies Library Universidad Católica. Assumption 1997.

© 2007 Emi Kasamatsu