The immigration of Japanese to Paraguay is relatively new, compared to other countries where it had begun in the last decade of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century. Initially, the Government of Japan did not plan to send immigrants to Paraguay due to several circumstances, such as lack of access to the sea coast, a small and unknown country with very little information regarding the country.

However, due to the problem that arose with the entry of immigrants of all nationalities to Brazil, where the majority of immigrants preferred to settle in the big cities rather than be farmers, as was the condition and what Brazil really needed for its development. , the entry quota was reduced by 2%. This motivated Japan to look for other countries around it, and the admission of Japanese agricultural immigrants was concluded through an agreement with the Paraguayan Government in 1936, founding the La Colmena colony with the arrival of 130 families.

The policy of the Government of Paraguay was the development of agriculture, considered the main source of wealth for the country and this was ratified, once again in 1954, for the completion of the second stage of Japanese immigration, which occurred after the Second World War. In a special way, the Paraguayan Government chose Japanese and German immigrants because they were considered very industrious, tenacious and responsible, and because their contributions would bring many benefits to the development of the country. For this purpose, they were given the necessary franchises to facilitate their entry into the country.

Initially, this requirement for the development of the countries' agriculture was not only from the Paraguayan Government. Going back to the history of Japanese immigrants in the Americas, they began in agricultural tasks or were immigrants hired on plantations, for sugar cane and coffee. Later, upon discovering more advantageous possibilities, they dedicated themselves to other professions.

Currently, the vast majority in Paraguay, the Japanese and Nikkei are dedicated to agriculture, especially those who reside in the colonies, whose development with mechanization and direct sowing, receive considerable benefits in all the agricultural fields that follow. being very satisfactory and sustainable.

In this way, it was the Japanese who introduced new crops, such as soybeans, a variety of little-known vegetables and fruits. Likewise, they contributed to the teaching of form, selection and cultivation techniques, as well as its care. The abundance of vegetable and fruit production favored consumption and a new food formula because they were very healthy for the daily diet.

In the sixties and seventies, tomato cultivation by the Japanese was like a boom. The impression of the great harvest of tomatoes of excellent quality and flavor, never seen before, was such that the local residents said: “Since the Japanese came, we eat tomatoes all year round” and even the First Lady of the Nation expressed her pleasure. before the illustrious visitors of the Japanese mission. Later, this product became one of the main export items for Paraguayan farmers, who learned the cultivation system and the task of care, including “the sacrifice” of holidays and Sundays.

There is a saying that expresses the characteristic of the Japanese desire to unite: “when three Japanese get together, they already create an association.” To improve the promotion of agriculture, cooperatives were created in each of the six colonies, accessing the successful model implemented in La Colmena in 1948. In this way, the collection of agricultural products and fruit growing was achieved with a structure appropriate organizational for better marketing and placement in the markets of the capital and other cities.

This associative task of the farmers of all the colonies made them prosper dizzyingly in the marketing of their products. On October 11, 1984, due to the need to come together for optimal functioning in the relationship of the national and international market, as well as to obtaining daily reports of national and international prices, for the study and research of seeds that are suitable for the soil and climate, for agro-industry and access to credit in banks and JICA, the Nikkei Central Cooperative is created Agricultural Limited.

The contribution of the Japanese in the agricultural sector, in which they had also achieved similar successes in other countries, became particularly important in Paraguay. The massive cultivation of soybeans that in 2003 took the country, along with other growers, to fourth place in the production and export ranking. As with the production of sesame that was little known until then, with the assistance and collection of small farmers, it has become a very relevant export item.

However, despite the very important reimbursable and non-reimbursable cooperation that the Government of Japan gave to Paraguay, did it serve to improve the quality of life of those in poverty and social inequality?

Edgar Morin said: ”Development produces new wealth but it also produces new poverty and inequalities.” Mechanized agriculture and large-scale production, both by nationals, Japanese and especially multinationals, left thousands of small Paraguayan farmers in poverty. The new modalities of production destroyed old forms of solidarity and private subsidies. Many sold their land to multinationals to live in poverty and seek relief in big cities.

Although it is true that poverty has been reduced in recent years in Paraguay, which according to statistics has dropped by 50%, international organizations and one individual, JICA, are offering their cooperation and training to those most in need in the region. search for poverty alleviation. For the Japanese and Nikkei contribution to be more effective, there must be more integration of the Nikkei in the social aspect and in public policies of comprehensive development and to study, investigate, diagnose in a holistic way the problems that afflict citizens in order to achieve a better quality of life for all.

© 2014 Emi Kasamatsu