## Chapter 4 Restoration/Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake

## 1 Earthquake and tsunami damage and restoration/reconstruction efforts

## (1) Farmland/farming facility restoration

The Great East Japan Earthquake inflicted damage worth 2,384.1 billion yen on the agriculture-forestry-fisheries sector (including 904.9 billion yen for the agriculture sector).

Under the Basic Guideline for Reconstruction of Agriculture and Rural Communities after the Great East Japan Earthquake, among farmland affected by the tsunami covering 21,480ha, it became possible to restart farming in 15,920ha (74%) by the end of January 2016. Restoration projects will continuously be implemented according to schedule in FY2015 and after, while also promoting expansion of the segmentation of farmland.

Of the 98 major drainage pump stations required to be restored, restoration has been completed or is being implemented for 91 stations (93%).

Farmland/farming facility restoration conditions (at the end of January 2016)

Item	Damage details	Progress in restoration	(%)
0	20	40	60	80	100
Farmland	Tsunami-damaged farmland in six prefectures→21,480ha	15,920haAvailable for resuming farming: 74%
Major drainage pump stations	98 drainage pump stations required to be restored	91 stationsRestored or being restored: 93%

Source: MAFF

## (2) Agriculture reconstruction

The number of farms in the three most damaged prefectures stood at 139,000 in 2015, down 22.5% from 2010 before the 2011 disaster. Meanwhile, the number of corporation farms in the three prefectures came to 2,007 in 2015, up 29.3% from 2010.

To resume farming and recover farming income, local farmers must introduce cooperative, large-scale and other new farming and distribution systems, as well as new product items and advanced production and management know-how, and address sales challenges including the exploration of new buyers.

## Number of farms in the three most damaged prefectures

(Unit: Farms)
Farms
Corporation farms
2010	179,396	1,552
2015	139,022	2,007
Change (%)	-22.5	29.3
(Reference) [Nationwide] change (%)	-18.0	25.3

Source: MAFF, “2015 Census of Agriculture and Forestry”

## Food-attached information journal linking producers and consumers in disaster-affected areas

Tohoku Kaikon, a specified non-profit corporation in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, launched “Tohoku Taberu Tsushin” as a food-attached information journal in July 2013.

The Tohoku Region, while proceeding with reconstruction after the disaster, is plagued with problems such as difficult lives for farming successors and farmers' unwillingness to have children inherit farming.

Representative Director Takahashi thought that linking separated producers to consumers through information would be the key to revitalizing the primary industry and started a "food reform for social reform" initiative. Believing that informing consumers of the value of food products and of what goes on behind the scenes during production, rather than selling them alone, would lead consumers to eat these products with passion. Takahashi created the journal. Takahashi plans to continuously link producers to consumers through the journal and promote initiatives for leading urban consumers to visit rural areas.

Tohoku Taberu Tsushin

Tohoku Kaikon members