Current Situation of Agriculture in Hino
Hitoshi Mizuguchi (JA-Tokyominami Community, Regional Development Department)
In Hino City, the first Agricultural Ordinance was enacted 10 years
ago within the nation; however it has not been sufficiently functioned.
Actually, the second agricultural development plan in 2004, triggered
substantial movements.
In Hino City, major aqueducts still remain as irrigation channels,
though paddy fields have been significantly reduced. We have to consider
how to utilize these waterways. Water channels in the area without
paddy fields are managed by Hino City, and those in the area with paddy
fields, are managed by water association. The members of the association
conduct day-to-day maintenance.
Productive Green System and Agriculture
Referring to the table 1 showing transformations of agricultural areas,
you will notice that there were many paddy fields in 1970 and then
they decreased along with the industrialization; after the land rearrangement
in the 60's, some paddy fields or fields were restored; and again these
fields have been gradually reduced. The area of productive green has
been increased after the re-designation system started (table 2). The
productive green system was originally based on urban planning law
and did not intend to conserve farmlands. Because of the complexity,
few productive green areas were designated at the start of the system.
Afterward, people noticed that these areas would be accorded precedence
in tax, which promoted re-designation movement resulting to rapid increase
of productive greens. The decrease afterward was because of succession.
Table 5 shows the age composition of farmers, by census numbers. The
graphs indicate the distribution of 1995, 2000 and 2005. The result
implies the potential issue that workers who should be core remain
stable, though older farmers will be increased.
The Difference of Consciousness between Farmers and Consumers
Most of consumers choose vegetables of good appearances. As a result,
tasteless vegetables frequently go into circulation because consumers
want to buy vegetables which are out of season.
The positive list system defining minimum standards of pesticide residue
has been heavy drag on farmers. Farmers today have to work in agriculture
shouldering heavy burdens. Some farmers might want to quit agriculture,
under further burdens, such as accession tax. This might be true for
farmers in the urban areas facing with higher tax rate. We have to
propose the issue of difference of consciousness between farmers and
consumers.
*For further details, refer to the research report of 2006, "Water
Town, Hino-For Renovation of Irrigation Channels". |
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[Fig.1 Transformations
of Agricultural Areas (Hino City)] |
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[Fig.2 Transformations
of Productive Green Areas (Hino City)] |
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[Fig.3 Transformations
of Distribution Farmers (Hino City)] |
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[Fig.4 Age Composition
of Farmers (Hino City)] |
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[Fig.5 Transformations
of Age Composition of Farmers (Hino City)] |
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Various Trials for Conservation of Agriculture
in Hino−Focusing on Education on Food and Agriculture"
Kazuo Kobayashi (JA-Tokyominami Community, Head of "No no Oeandan",
Nanao District)
We emphasize recognitions on agriculture, in order to conserve housing
site for farmers and better environment for agriculture, promoting various
activities including "Schoolchildren' Farm" and "No no
Oendan (Cheer Group for Agriculture)". Our agricultural location
within the mega consuming land, Tokyo, is considered to be advantageous
for consuming within the production district; however, small fields doted
among residential areas are actually separated from consumers. At present,
the number of farmers of Hino City is 1696; 1 % of the city's population
(171,000 in 2005). Farmlands are surrounded by residential areas where
people who do not relate to agriculture live. Agricultural area was 230ha
(paddy fields=37 ha; fields=193ha) in 2003, which reduced to 208ha (paddy
fields=25ha; fields=183ha) in 2005.
"School Farm" was hinted by school meal; our school meal
has been evaluated as one of the most delicious one within the nation,
and also as ideal. Local vegetables have been actively used, and a dietician
has been assigned for each school. We started to use local vegetables
for school meal 23 years ago, when the terms, "Consume local product
within the area", or "slow food" did not exist. We heard
dieticians said that they could no longer buy black rice, and started
to crop ancient rice. Aiming to make children know about agriculture,
we promoted to introduce agriculture into school classes, including rice
planting, cropping, and eating as their school meal. These activities
have developed into school farms. Owing to theses farms, parents could
also know about farmers and agriculture of their region, which could
lead to consume local products within the area.
For safe control of planting by children, we had discussions with local
government, JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives), and farmers for each
school. For example, foot-operated grain threshing has been adopted.
Children cooked using ancient rice, including Sekihan. Mochi pounding
was also performed. Children ate these foods. Old villagers came to school
to teach children and their parents how to make straw crafts, such as
zori (Japanese sandal), shimenawa (enclosing rope), wreath, etc. Children
learn difficulties and efficiency of agriculture, preciousness of foods,
natural environment, etc., and each of them might feel to become a true
farmer during a year. Through these activites, children frequently said
hello to us working in a field when they go to and from school, and stop
throwing garbage away into fields; instead they got interested in farm
products. The above could not be achieved without understandings and
cooperation from schools, teachers, and parents. Fortunately, the activities
began to spread.
Other activities include Hino soybeans project, making buckwheat noodle,
cropping sesame, and radish, etc. Forth grade students cultivated Hirayama
Okabo, lost rice in the market, and they boiled cropped rice in an iron
pot with wood fuel. In Hirayamadai Elementary School, students grow apples
in association with mentally handicapped children's class. They observe
the tree throughout a year and also cover apples. It is important to
continue these activities.
School Farm is volunteered by farmers. They use the income from the
sales of ancient rice, etc., as activity fees (they do not get subsidy
from Hino City).
Future issues include promoting "visible agriculture" because
urban farm products cultivated among residences should provide the sense
of safety to consumers. One of the responsibilities of urban agriculture
is to stick on "Shoku-no (eat agriculture) Education", with
JA.
*For further details, refer to the research report of 2006, "Water
Town, Hino-For Renovation of Irrigation Channels". |
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Significance of Urban Agriculture
Tsukasa Fukazawa (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives-Tokyo, Central Region
Promotion Department)
What is Urban Agriculture?
"Urban Agriculture" was defined as "agriculture of a
city or its surrounding area" in the section 2, article 36 of "Standard
Law for Foods, Agriculture and Farming Villages" established in
July, 1999 by Farm Ministry. I think that it is the agriculture in an
urbanization promotion area. Farm Ministry does not implement concrete
measures including long-term financing, except for restoration from disasters,
Construction Ministry defined that a designated urbanization promotion
area shall be deemed a residential block.
A survey of 1993 on urban agriculture in the form of questionnaire shows
that 70% of respondents thought that farmland should be conserved. In
the survey of 2004, 90% of respondents answered that "farmland should
be conserved". In the same results, 41% of respondents thought that "all
farmland should be conserved"; 48% answered that "farmland
of farmers who are involved in the agriculture should be conserved".
To the question, "What do you expect for farmland?", leading
answer was "(the farmland should be) a place where fresh farm products
are cultivated". 42% of respondents answered that "Farmlands
are necessary or expect to maintain greens, landscape and natural environment";
20% chose that "a place of education or agricultural experiences
for children". We can summarize that citizens expects the above
points from farmlands.
Issues of Farmlands and Systems
As for property tax on farmlands, when the farmland was designated as
productive green, it was evaluated as a farmland and is subject to tax
on agriculture. A farmland other than productive green is deemed a residential
block and subject to both property tax and urban planning tax. At the
succession, accession tax deferral system is applied only to farmlands.
With this system, the area of 10a is evaluated as 1,000,000 yen of investment
price; however, deferral system could be applied only to productive green.
Furthermore, the system is so strict because tax exemption is applied
only a farmer who continues agriculture to the death.
A farmhouse usually contains residential blocks for agricultural use,
residential spaces for their own living, warehouse, garage, working spaces,
and also premises forest. When utilizing deferral system, farmers must
pay tax for building lot. They have to sell farmland to preserve their
houses. As a result, succession leads to rapid decrease of farmlands.
Future Agriculture
The place for agricultural production will be essential for future agriculture.
Furthermore, agriculture has many-sided functions. Most of them are derived
from the location within a city.
Currently, farmlands are attracting attentions as temporary refuges
for disaster prevention. Greens can be conserved with lower costs if
they are retained as farmland while retaining the function of fire prevention.
Paddy fields and irrigation channels can be maintained and controlled
only based on farmers' costs. Farmlands also attract attentions because
of their educational functions. When considering their role to townscape,
the handling of premises forests is important. Nerima-city office started
farmlands for agriculture experience about 12 or 13 years ago, aiming
to open agriculture to citizens. The charge for using a single lot (30m2)
is 40,000 yen a year. In Tokyo, there are 35 families which open their
farmlands in a manner as described above. Farmers appreciate the system
because it is profitable for them. Furthermore, such farmland often forms
communities. Such way of agriculture is ideal. Future agriculture will
be the one only realized within a city, which will give us great significance.
Farmers born in early Showa have supported the agriculture in Tokyo,
but we will face critical period. For this reason, we wish to continue
agriculture in a manner to receive supports from citizens.
*For further details, refer to the research report of 2006, "Water
Town, Hino-For Renovation of Irrigation Channels". |
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