10) Outline of sweetpotato-related projects (subsidized by the government, 2000)

Project	Budget (thousand yen)
Comprehensive Project for Improving Agricultural Production	28,075,017 (a portion of this to be used for sweetpotato)
1. Promotion Activities	1/2 of budget subsidized
(1) Improving efficiency of farming operations Systematically improve production, distribution, and processing operations. (2) Improvement of communication between producers and consumers Conduct surveys on consumption trends, plan promotional campaigns, and develop new uses for sweetpotato. (3) Introduction of new technology and new varieties Encouragement of new farm technology, and rapid distribution of new varieties (particularly local specialties)
2. Improvement of infrastructure	1/2 of budget subsidized
(1) Improvement of infrastructure of small farm plots Field improvement, culvert operation, soil improvement, etc. (2) Development of joint use farm facilities Joint sprout production facilities, processing facilities, shipping/storage facilities, etc. (3) Develop system for joint use of farm machinery Sprout planters, harvesters, etc.
Emergency Measures for Improvement of Upland Farming
1. Maintanence of consumer demand	46,000
Conduct surveys on consumption trends, plan promotional campaigns, and develop new uses for sweetpotato.	1/2 of budget subsidized
2. Conversion of starch use production to new uses	103,661
Promote conversion from starch use production (using starch-use sweetpotato or sliced, dried, raw sweetpotato) to production for food processing.	1/2 of budget subsidized