Since rice is categorized together with legumes and miscellaneous grain crops in statistics, the result of this category is shown below.
Table 3-6 Volumes handled in 1992 (unit:1,000t)
A major part of the rice, miscellaneous grain crops and legumes category is occupied by grains for feed, such as cornand kaoliang, and the total volume handled of this category in Hokkaido in 1992 was 1. 68 million tons. Table 3-6 shows that the total volume handled at 4 major ports, Muroran, Tomakomai, Otaru and Kushiro, accounted for 97% of the total.
(3) Location of a reserve base
Considering such locational conditions, the Tomakomai Tobu Area. which is a port area with favorable conditions for acquisition of land with distribution facilities close to rice production and consumption areas, was chosen as a model area of this study.
4. Details Regarding a Large-Scale Cold-Temperature Rice Reserve Base
Based on the results of our examination, the following details were established:
(1) Subject product: domestically produced rice (rice should be hulled to decrease volume)
(2) Scale of reserve: Since it is impossible for a single reserve base to hold the total reserve required for the whole nation, which is estimated to be 1. 5 million tons, its scale should be 100, 000 t, as the minimum unit to realize scale merit.
(3) Reserve period: 5 years, to avoid at least the deterioration of quality
(4) Location: Tomakomai Tobu Area, Hokkaido
(5) Style of packing: bags usually used for domestically produced rice (flexible containers may also be used.)
(6) Type of warehouse: stacking warehouses for easy temperature and humidity management
(7) Facility scale: Five 2-story warehouses, each of which can store 20, 000 t, should be used to increase efficiency of air conditioners. Each warehouse will be divided by partition walls and rice will be shipped into and out of each room, complete with temperature and humidity control devices.
(8) Storage management: temperature and humidity will be monitored and damage by diseases and insects will be checked regularly.
5. A Trial Estimation of the Cost for a Large-Scale Cold-Temperature Rice Reserve
A trial estimation of reserving cost was made for the model location in this study. However, it was assumed that the location of the food reserve would be the Tomakomai Tobu Area and the construction cost does not include the cost for land development.
5-1 Construction cost
(1) Per warehouse
･Warehouse \3.34 billion
･Airconditioner \900 million
･Pallets \600 million
Total \4.84 billion
5 warehouses total \24.2 billion
(2) Office, power-receiving facilities, pavement, planting, etc.
･For construction of 5 warehouses (20,000 t each)
\950 million
*Construction of storage facility per ton of rice
\251,500/t
5-2 Reserve maintenance costs
The costs for reserve include the cost of electricity for air conditioning, repair costs for equipment and facilities, and wages for security guards. It was assumed that electricity for air conditioning would only be used for 50% of the year and not for 3 months in winter. The basic rate is normally \1, 310/kw, the charging rate is \13. 14 and the basic rate in winter is half of the normal rate.
