The Damages caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Actions taken by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (April 25)

1. Summary of the earthquake (by Japan Meteorological Agency)

JMA Seismic Intensity	Area
7	Northern part of Miyagi
6+	Southern and Central part of Miyagi Prefecture Nakadori and Hamadori of Fukushima Prefecture Northern and Southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture Northern and Southern part of Tochigi Prefecture
6-	Southern part of coastal area, northern part of inland area and southern part of inland area of Iwate Prefecture Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture Southern part of Gunma Prefecture Southern part of Saitama Prefecture North-west part of Chiba Prefecture

2. Damages of agriculture, forestry and fisheries

Fisheries	Fish vessels	18,959	1,237	Catastrophic damages on Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima. In addition, damages were reported from Hokkaido, Aomori , Ibaraki , Chiba , Tokyo , Kanagawa , Aichi, Mie, Wakayama , Tokushima, Kochi , Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa. The damages of fish vessels and fishery harbor facilities are predicted to increase substantially. (Vessels registered in Toyama, Ishikawa, Shizuoka, Tottori had damaged while moored in disaster area)
	Fishery harbor facilities	318 harbors	3,799
	Aquaculture facilities	-	464
	Aquaculture products	-	544
	Common use facilities such as market places and processing facilities	-	184
subtotal			6,228
Agricultural land, facilities	Damaged agricultural land	2,062areas	3,755	Aomori, Iwate, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Nagano and Mie
	Damaged agricultural facilities etc.	10,546 facilities	3,051	Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Nagano, Shizuoka, Niigata and Mie
subtotal		12,608points	6,807
Agricultural crops etc.	Agricultural crops and livestock, etc.	-	115	Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Yamanashi, Nagano, Niigata and Mie
	Agricultural livestock production facilities, etc.	-	367
subtotal			482
Forestry	Desolation of forests land	364 points	294	Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Chiba, Niigata, Nagano, Shizuoka and Kochi
	Damage of facilities for maintaining forest	114 points	183
	Damage of forest road	1,402 points	21
	Damage of forests	(810ha)	8
	Processing and marketing facilities etc.	71 points	504
	Cultivating facilities for forest products	344 points	11
subtotal		(810ha) 2,295 points	1,019
Total			14,536

 

 3. Responses of MAFF to the earthquake disaster (as of April 24, 17:00)

(1) Main responses of Japanese government to the earthquake disaster

• Japanese government established disaster countermeasures office. (March 11)
• Japanese government dispatched governmental investigation teams to Miyagi prefecture ( March 11), Iwate and Fukushima prefecture ( March 12).

• Japanese government designated the disaster by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake (renamed as Great East Japan Earthquake) as Heavy Disaster covered with all parts of the country. (March 12)

(2) Main responses of MAFF to the earthquake disaster

  【 Establishment of framework within MAFF 】

• MAFF established MAFF Earthquake Response Headquarters (March 11)
• MAFF established the contact point of consultation service for the damages in agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. (March 12)
• MAFF confirmed MAFF Disaster Response Measures at MAFF Earthquake Response Headquarters. (March 12)
• MAFF enhanced provision of the information through the MAFF’s Website

【 Establishment of support system in the devastated area 】

• MAFF’s staff dispatched to Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures are engaged in emergency food assistance in collaboration with local authorities.
• Tohoku Regional Agricultural Administration Office, Tohoku Regional Forest Office, Kanto Regional Forest Office, Local Agricultural Administration Offices, Governmental Project Offices are also providing the necessary assistances in cooperation with these disaster countermeasures offices on site.
• Fisheries Agency’s fishery oversight vessels are engaged in the search activities on site. (March 11~)
• With cooperation with related organizations, Tohoku Regional Forest Office and Kanto Regional Forest Office are engaged in the transportation of food to the evacuation centers by 20 cars. (March 17~)

【Site survey】

• Hokkaido Regional Forest Office, Tohoku Regional Forest Office, Kanto Regional Forest Office, Chubu Regional Forest Office conducted researches by helicopters.(March 12, 13, 16 , 19, April 10 and 12)
• Hon. Ms. Tanabu, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey to check the damages and exchanged information and opinions with victims in Miyako City and Yamada Town, Iwate prefecture. (March 20)
• Fishery survey vessel Hakuryu Maru was engaged in the confirmation of the safety of some inhabitants in Oshika peninsula and provided the information to the Ishinomaki city government. (March 18-21)
• MAFF dispatched staff of Forestry Agency and Tohoku Regional Forest Office to Miyagi prefecture. They conducted the site survey to check the damages with staff from Miyagi prefecture. Experts of Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute also joined the survey. (March 23-25)
• Hon Mr. Yoshida, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey to check the damages and exchanged information and opinions with local entities concerned in Ibaraki prefecture. (March 24)
• Hon. Ms. Tanabu, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey to check the damages and exchanged information and opinions with victims in Hachinohe City and Hashikami City, Aomori prefecture. (March 26)
• MAFF dispatched 4 staff including Head of Construction Planning and Coordination Office, Design Division, Rural Development Bureau to Miyagi prefecture. They investigate the situation of large-scale disaster and give assistance and advice for disaster recovery from Ishinomaki City to coastal area of Yamamoto Chou. (March 26 - 27)
• MAFF dispatched staff of Rural Development Bureau and Tohoku Regional Agricultural Administration Office to Iwate and Miyagi prefecture. They conducted the site survey to check the damages with staff from Iwate and Miyagi prefecture by helicopter. Experts of National Institute for Rural Engineering also joined the survey. (March 30-31)
• MAFF dispatched staff of Forestry Agency to Ibaraki prefecture. They conducted the site survey to check the damages with staff of Ibaraki prefecture. Experts of Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute also joined the survey. (March 31 - April 1)
• Hon Mr. Kano, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey at disaster area including Ishinomaki City and Natori City, Miyagi prefecture and exchanged information and opinions with entities concerned at Miyagi prefectural government office. In addition, he conducted the site survey at the freight transport complex in Tendo City, Yamagata prefecture. (April 2-3)
• Hon Mr. Kano, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey at disaster area such as Iwaki City and Fukushima City, Fukushima prefecture and exchanged information and opinions with entities concerned at Iwaki City, Fukushima City and Iitate Village. (April 9)
• Director-General of Rural Development Bureau conducted the site survey at disaster area and exchanged information and opinions with entities concerned in Fukushima prefecture. (April 10)
• MAFF dispatched staff of Forestry Agency to Iwate prefecture. They conducted the site survey to check the damages with staff of Iwate prefecture. Experts of Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute also joined the survey. (April 12 - )
• MAFF dispatched staff of Forestry Agency to Fukushima prefecture. They conducted the site survey to check the damages with staff of Fukushima prefecture. (April 12)
• Deputy Director-General of Rural Development Bureau conducted the site survey at disaster area and exchanged information and opinions with entities concerned in Iwate and Miyagi prefecture. (April 15 ~ 16)
• Hon Mr. Kano, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey at disaster area and exchanged information and opinions with entities concerned at Yamada Town in Iwate prefecture. (April 16)
• Director-General of Statistics Department conducted the site survey to check the damages such as liquefied farmlands at Itako city in Ibaraki prefecture and at Katori city in Chiba prefecture. (April 19)
• Hon Mr. Kano, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted the site survey at disaster area and exchanged information and opinions with entities concerned in Fukushima prefecture and Ibaraki prefecture. (April 23)

【Securing food, etc.】

• MAFF requested related organizations to secure enough food for victims.(March 11)
• MAFF responded for the request of emergency food supply from Ibaraki, Fukushima, Yamagata, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture.
• MAFF requested related organizations to establish the framework to supply enough charcoal, artificial coal and so on. (March 11, 26)
• MAFF provided 26t of charcoal and 1,300 sets of stove burners for Miyagi and Fukushima prefecture. (March 17~) Tohoku Regional Forest Office provided 113 sets of wood stove burners, etc. (March 20~)
• Under cooperation with private fish vessels, Fisheries Agency’s fishery oversight / survey vessels and the Mother vessel for whaling research (total 10 vessels) transported 800kl of heavy fuel oil, 420KL of diesel oil, 180,000 cups of instant noodles, 53,000 cans of food, 390 boxes of diaper and 16,000 boxes of underclothing to the devastated area. (March 17 ~ April 6)
• Relevant ministries including Forest Agency requested the related organizations to provide housing material smoothly to respond to the shortage of them.(March 18) MAFF held Communications Conferences for Organizations of Forestry and Wood. (March 15~)
• MAFF provided 533 sets of wood stove burners to 12 cities and towns in Miyagi prefecture. (April 1~)

【Finance】

• MAFF requested related financial institutions to provide smooth finance and rescheduling of loans and so on to victims in agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. (March 11)
• The government of Japan enforced the Act on Temporary Measures on Financial Support of Farmers, Forestry Workers and Fishery Workers Suffering from Natural Disaster, and provided the low-rate loans (natural disaster relief loans) to farmers, foresters and fishermen damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake. (April 15)  

【Rural land and agricultural facilities】

• MAFF directed each prefecture to check dams and storage reservoirs and to prevent secondary disasters based on the premise of maximum priority on human life.
• MAFF dispatched experts of National Institute for Rural Engineering and staff in charge to Miyagi and Fukushima prefecture for the emergency checkups of agricultural facilities based on the requests from these prefectures. (March 13-)
• MAFF delivered pumps for first aid from Land Improvement Technology Offices. (March 14 ~, 19 pumps to Fukushima prefecture and 46 pumps to Miyagi prefecture. Among them, 5 pumps in Fukushima prefecture and 41 pumps in Miyagi prefecture are in operation, and 14 pumps in Fukushima prefecture and 3 pumps in Miyagi prefecture are ready and waiting as of April 15.)
• MAFF issued a notice to Tohoku and Kanto regional Agricultural Administration Offices to simplify drastically the assessment procedure of the disaster recovery projects to accelerate the early reconstruction of damaged area.

【Other issues】

• MAFF operated the customs and quarantines rapidly in close cooperation with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries by providing information of the procedures of customs and quarantines of rescue dogs just after the earthquake. As a result of this operation, Japanese government has accepted 41dogs from U.K., U.S., Australia, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, Singapore and South Korea.
• MAFF issued technical guidelines in terms of feeding method to respond mixed feed shortage and temperature control of windless livestock facilities and horticultural facilities under blackout condition. (March 15)   
• In support of ensuring the supply of mixed feeds, MAFF conducted the following measures.

• To reduce the burden on the dairy farmers who need to discard their produced raw milk, MAFF issued a technical notice to promote quick milking suspension and to inform some technical advice. (March 24)
• MAFF issued a technical notice to assess and restore the situation of damaged agricultural land and farm irrigation facilities as early as possible, as well as to prepare for farming on rice crops and horticulture depending on the damaged situation. (March 31)
• MAFF issued a notice to Agricultural Mutual Relief Associations in Aomori prefecture and other 6 prefectures on an extension of due date of payment of the agricultural insurance  premium of livestock mutual aid and horticultural facilities mutual aid, and prompt payment of mutual aid money. (March 31)
• MAFF determined the extension of the deadline for the submission of applications for the income support direct payment scheme. (April 1)
• MAFF issued the ministerial ordinance on special cases concerning the due date for payment of the agricultural insurance premium of fruit mutual aid (harvested mutual aid) and upland field crop mutual aid. (April 11)
• Tohoku Regional Forest Office lent about 399 ha of coastal forests in Miyagi prefecture with no charge to the prefectural governments such as Miyagi to place rubbles temporarily. (April 15)
• Kanto Regional Forest Office lent about 3 ha of former nursery gardens at Yabuki town in Fukushima prefecture with no charge to the Yabuki town office to place rubbles temporarily. (April 15)