Toyota Australia is providing much needed transport to Japanese volunteers as they work in North Queensland to replace vital rice supplies destroyed by the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake.
With many farmers in Fukushima unable to grow rice due to radiation and salt-water contamination, the Iwaki World Tambo Project is trialling a large plot of land in Burdekin, North Queensland to test whether it is suitable for rice growing.
To assist volunteer farmers as they develop the farm, Toyota Australia will provide a Prado diesel vehicle to the Iwaki World Tambo Project for use during the next year.
The vehicle will ensure volunteers have a reliable mode of transport to bring relevant supplies to and from the farm.
Toyota Australia President and CEO Max Yasuda said the company was pleased to be involved in the project and be given the opportunity to assist communities in North Queensland and Japan.
"At Toyota we place a strong emphasis on supporting communities during times of crisis. The 2011 natural disaster had a devastating effect on many communities in Japan, of which many have still not recovered," Mr Yasuda said.
"We believe that this project will not only assist with replenishment of rice supplies in Japan, it will also benefit the Burdekin region. Our donation will ensure volunteer farmers can easily access the land to undertake the project, which we understand will strengthen the agricultural industry in Burdekin and has the potential to create new export opportunities for North Queensland."
With more than 20,000 farms in Fukushima, Japan unable to be used for rice or food crops for up to 40 years, the Iwaki World Tambo Project plans to export the rice grown in the Burdekin region to Japan.
"Toyota has been engaged in a variety of earthquake recovery efforts in Japan and continues to assist in the recovery. We want to ensure that we provide support both when the initial event occurs as well as some time after, when long term support is needed," Mr Yasuda said.
Mr Yasuda yesterday travelled to North Queensland to hand over the keys to the new Prado to Takemi Shirado, Chief Director of the Iwaki World Tambo Project. While there he met volunteers working on the project, and also toured the Ayr Research Station which helped with the trial of rice growing.
