Biodiversity / Food / Water

June 12, 2010

 

Japan's Fukui Prefecture Extends Regional Agricultural Support to 573 Villages

Keywords: Food Local government NGO / Citizen 

JFS/Japan's Fukui Prefecture Extends Regional Agricultural Support to 573 Villages
Copyright Fukui Prefecture


Fukui Prefecture began a regional agriculture support program by establishing centers to support their local agriculture in 2007. Since then the numbers of support centers has increased and now covers most of the prefecture. The project's aim is to protect regional agriculture by supporting the aging and small-scale farmers in 573 villages who strive to continue farming.

Such as one in Echizen-Town, a registration system was adopted at the support centers, where supporters willing to help with farm work for farmers in need of help. Since the start of the project, supporters utilize farm equipment to help with rice cropping such as planting and harvesting. Some of the centers also conducts training courses on how to use farm equipment and also lends the machines to supporters. As of end-March 2010, 15 municipals have set a support center and a total of approximately 660 people have registered to become an agricultural supporter.

In addition, a system called "The Cat's Paw Club" started in Awara-City in April 2010. 30 people initially registered, to help with farm work such as preparing fields for planting, planting seedlings, thinning out buds of fruit, picking fruit and harvesting. The club's name comes from an expression in Japanese used when a person is so busy and desperate enough to ask for help even from a cat. When a farmer places a request for farm help, the support center office chooses a member who is available and informs them of the date, time and type of work. Upon completion of the work, the support center office collects a fee from the farmer and pays the supporters. This system enables the support members to choose work days and times that match their personal lifestyle rhythm.

Japanese Kids to Learn How to Farm on Abandoned Land (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029225.html

Posted: 2010/06/12 06:00:15 AM

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