The dairy farming crisis in Okinawa: farmers cope with rising costs

One of the farms affected by market conditions is Hiranaka Farm in Yaese. The enterprise, which has about 80 heads of livestock, produces about 2 tons of milk daily. According to Michi Hiranaka, the farm manager, the current situation requires significant efforts to maintain production. Electricity and utility costs have doubled compared to previous years. In addition, the cost of compound feed, which is critical for maintaining livestock productivity, is constantly rising.

The specificity of the region lies in its high dependence on maritime logistics: about 90% of feed is delivered to Okinawa by ship. The cost of production is negatively affected by exchange rate fluctuations, problems with fuel procurement, and the consequences of international conflicts. The summer season causes particular difficulties, when high temperatures force farmers to use fans and irrigation systems to prevent heat stress in livestock, which leads to additional expenses for electricity and water.

An additional factor of instability is the suspension of milk deliveries to schools during the summer holidays. The volume of unclaimed raw materials reaches 500 tons over two months. Such milk is redirected for processing to other regions, for example, to Kyushu, for the production of butter or milk powder. At the same time, the purchase price for farmers in such cases can decrease by half.

According to the prefectural authorities, the industry is in a long-term decline: the number of dairy farms in Okinawa has decreased from 212 in 1985 to 55 last year. Experts cite the lack of successors and deteriorating business performance as the main reasons. Despite the difficulties, the management of Hiranaka Farm continues to invest in equipment modernization and improvement of herd management methods. Plans include strengthening interaction between producers and consumers, as well as promoting local dairy products, including the creation of new types of goods, such as bread and confectionery made from surplus milk.