## 1 Farmland consolidation and trend of business farmers

## (1) Farmland consolidation initiative

As business farmers have decreased, with more farmland dilapidated, the government promotes the preparation and regular review of personnel and farmland plans indicating the future picture of regional business farmers and farmland use through talks.

In order to increase business farmer’s share of the total farmland area to 80%, the government has established Public Corporations for Farmland Consolidation to Core Farmers through Renting and Subleasing (Farmland Banks). In their first year (FY2014), the Farmland Banks rented 29,000 hectares of farmland and subleased 24,000 hectares. They should be put on track as early as possible to substantially expand farmlands for business farmers.

## Changes in business farmers' share of Japan's total farmland area

Sources: MAFF, “Statistics on Cultivated Land and Planted Area,” “Survey on Community-based Farm Cooperatives” (aggregate calculation after reclassification), MAFF surveys

Note: Data are at the end of March for each year.

## Farmland consolidation initiative using Farmland Banks

Miyauchi in Daisen Town, Saihaku Country, Tottori Prefecture is a hilly, mountainous area with 28 farming families and 27.7 hectares of farmland. Young business farmers undertake most farming operations under contracts. In 2014, residents in the area considered using the prefectural Farmland Bank when talking about their personnel and farmland plans. They used the Farmland Bank to provide 15.5 hectares of farmland from 20 families to business farmers, raising business farmers' farmland consolidation rate from 9% in 2013 to 56% in 2014.

Farmland providers have established a Miyauchi farmland conservation association, under which farming families plan to share grass-cutting operations on nearby farm roads and causeways to support business farmers and conserve farmlands.

Community meeting on a personnel and farmland plan

## (2) Initiatives to secure business farmers and trends of women farmers

O It is important to nurture farmers with excellent business sense as well as farming skills.

The government promotes corporation farms that are favorable for efficient and stable farming.

To secure new farmers, national and local governments implement various measures to help people to launch farming.

Women farmers accounted for 43% of core persons mainly engaged in farming, playing a key role in supporting agriculture and local activities. Women farmers are demonstrating their capabilities and implementing farm management for high goals or aims throughout Japan.

The entry of corporations into the agriculture sector is in progress at the quintuple pace after the revision of the Agricultural Land Act in 2009. By the end of June 2015, 1,898 corporations had entered the agriculture sector.

The government provides certified and other business farmers with support under farming income stabilization measures.

## Changes in newcomers in agriculture

## (By type of employment)

(By age group)

Source: MAFF, “Survey on Newcomers in Agriculture”

## AFFrinnovation initiative based on women's sense

Hiromi Ogawa of Ogawa Farm in Kobayashi City, Miyazaki Prefecture, moved to the city along with her husband Michihiro in 2006 and underwent training at the Miyazaki Farmers Academy and farms before launching the cultivation of vine-ripened mini-tomatoes.

She has also launched an AFFrinnovation initiative to develop mini-tomato jam, tomato sauce, tomato puree and other products.

Based on women’s sense, she has devised a recyclable bottle that carries an easily-removable tag instead of a paper label for these tomato products. As a member of the “Nougyou-Joshi Project” (campaign for women farmers to be more active in agricultural business by cooperating with various industries to tap women farmers' knowledge and experiences), Hiromi has participated in market and other events in Tokyo.

Hiromi Ogawa (left) and Michihiro Ogawa (right)