This facility, which focuses on apple tree cultivation using dwarfing rootstock and is situated on a 65-hectare site that includes 45 hectares of fields. The Course for Evergreen Trees is offered at the Training Center for Fruit Growing in Kunisaki, Oita Prefecture. This facility, which has a site area of 50 hectares, including 20 hectares of fields, is primarily used for citrus tree cultivation employing a systematized biennial bearing method. The goal of the training, which lasts one year, is to train fruit farmers who will become future industry leaders and who will be able to operate large-scale fruit farms. The curriculum comprises approximately 900 hours of instruction in the use of high-performance mechanized systems and 300 hours of lectures on growing techniques and farm management.
All students are in residence and tuition is free.
As of June 1999, a total of 1,052 students had completed TCFG training. Most TCFG alumni currently operate fruit farms in major growing districts and play a key role in the effort to develop their local fruit-growing industries. Production and Shipment of Natsumikan, 1998. Forecast for Production and Shipment of Grapes, as of July 1, 1999. Forecast for Production and Shipment of Japanese Pears, as of July 1, 1999.