Customer Feedback
【Shizuoka】I can’t quit even if I wanted to!
Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Ishikawa Farm Mr. Yuki Ishikawa
It’s been a legacy of continuous challenges, starting from my father’s generation. Transitioning from livestock farming, we ventured into strawberry cultivation through JA sales.
However, with limited sales outlets, achieving substantial revenue was elusive. Several years ago, we took matters into our own hands, creating flyers and attempting to expand our market.
Thanks to a distinctive advertising strategy, we’ve seen an increase in customers expressing interest and willingness to purchase. Originally focusing on strawberries, we also cultivated corn and peanuts at different times.
Surprisingly, customers who initially sought strawberries began expressing interest in our other products, saying, “We want corn, we want peanuts!” This shift led to year-round purchases, and the more we produce, the more we sell.
Although I once considered quitting, the thriving economy made it challenging to step back. With the ability to make jam from strawberries and butter from peanuts, we opened a café on December 2, 2023, embracing new opportunities and expanding our offerings.
Why did you install Ultra Fine Bubble (UFB)?
The introduction of UFB occurred in 2017 during a presentation on agricultural materials at a strawberry club. At that time, our family business involved cultivating various crops, making it challenging to dedicate ample time to a single crop.
Recognizing this, we considered UFB as an ideal solution to boost strawberry yields. This was especially relevant as we were already utilizing an automatic liquid fertilizer irrigation system for strawberries, and UFB offered a convenient way to enhance productivity without the need for extensive adjustments.
How are the effects of nanobubbles?
We employ the standard type for irrigating our strawberries, and while it doesn’t yield a dramatic effect, it enhances root development, contributing to an annual increase in yield.
The most significant benefit, in our view, is the consistent quality improvement, ensuring that the overall quality does not deteriorate.
For weed control in our green onions, we use a compact type.
Adjusting the gas supply pressure allows for precise control of the water penetration during irrigation. This adjustment ensures that water permeates between the hairs on the surface of the green onions, resulting in a richer color.
We believe this contributes to reducing the use of pesticides and the frequency of weed control applications.
What are your thoughts on nanobubble technology?
In the uncharted territory of technology, we are eager to explore and discover new effects by adjusting factors such as pressure and gas supply. The effectiveness of the compact type in achieving weed control through water penetration has been notable.
However, determining the optimal pressure is a daily adjustment, influenced by the condition of the raw water and the specific pesticide being diluted.
In a later revelation, we discovered that this adjustment method is not endorsed by Kakuiti. Nevertheless, we believe in adapting and optimizing our practices to suit the environment.
For our strawberry cultivation using the standard type, we’ve upgraded to an automatic liquid fertilizer irrigation system with a solar radiation proportional control in the current production. The standard type has also been upgraded to allow adjustment of gas supply levels since the previous production. Similar to the compact type, we aim to fine-tune these adjustments based on environmental conditions.
About the future
At the 2022 Agricultural WEEK, our farm was pleasantly surprised to witness the unveiling of the new Ultra-Fine Bubble (UFB) generation device, “White Nano.”
What amazed us even more was the revelation that this product was developed with reference to the adjustment method I had discovered for the Compact type. It’s uncommon for manufacturers to alter their recommended operating methods, making it particularly gratifying to see a company embrace user feedback and strive for improvement.
Agriculture is a constant cycle of challenges, decisions, and adjustments. Similar to the café we opened on December 2, 2023, we continue to explore new frontiers with Nano Bubble technology, always seeking the perfect balance in our endeavors.
