Abstract
According to the previous analyses, larger farms were more likely to practice sustainable agriculture (environmentally friendly farming). In paddy field farming, large community farms have been gaining a share of the farmland area recently and we consider that they are one of the primary pillars of sustainable agriculture. The purpose of this article is to elucidate the advantages and challenges of them in sustainable agricultural practice through three case studies. To achieve this aim, we compared sustainable agricultural practices on two community farms and a large household farm in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, where sustainable agricultural practices have been introduced since 2008 with reintroduction of the Japanese crested ibis (Nipponia nippon). Our investigation in this article revealed the following points. One advantage of community farms in the practice of sustainable agriculture for rice farming is the irrigation method of winter flooding. Community farms can utilize pumps (or river water), while household farms tend to utilize rainfall or temporary irrigation pipes. Another one is the ability to quickly convert to sustainable agriculture in respective local communities. At the same time, community farms also face some challenges, which are securing laborers, making landowners (and their children) participate in activities related to cultivation, and establishing a management strategy with little available land for further farmland expansion. The present political measures, Kankyo hozen gata nougyo tyokusetsu sien taisaku [Direct Payment for Environmentally Friendly Farming] in which the government have been executing and local measures in which some municipalities have been originally implementing, give support to farmers and local community on overcoming these challenges. However, a perspective of supporting a practice of community farms is not sufficient. We need to consider perspectives on policy making in the future.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
1,000 yen on practicing winter flooding, 2,000 yen on creating e, and 4,000 yen on creating a fish ladder in 2012 (1 yen = 0.01 US dollars). There is an additional subsidy depending on geographical conditions and the degree of land integration.
- 2.
This policy was slightly changed as follows: Nouchi mizu hozen kanri siharai kouhukin [Payment for Conserving Farmland and Water] in 2011.
- 3.
In general, the purpose of winter flooding is the creation of wetland environment for various wildlife, such as waterfowl, or improvement of soil environment for weed control.
- 4.
Indeed, the number of applications and certifications of this system are not much in Sado, according to an interview of staff of the Sado Municipal Government.
- 5.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average amount of rainfall in January, February, and December was 368.9 mm in Aikawa, Sado (from 1981 to 2010) compared with an average of 238.0 mm for the whole country.
- 6.
Or it has to expand to farmland outside the area. Refer to Ando et al. (2013).
- 7.
Toyooka City started a support system for local communities to promote sustainable agricultural practices in 2012. Four local communities were targeted in that year.
- 8.
Related to this point, the Sado Municipal Government cleverly permits various conditions of winter flooding practice, mentioned above.
- 9.
Refer to a fact that the number of commercial farmers aged <65 years in each household is few in Sado, mentioned at sector 2.
- 10.
Both the organized farms have no plans to expand its farmland outside the local community (Nagaune and Syomyoji).
- 11.
On the other hand, Saito Farm’s manager intends to expand its farmland with a prospect for additional farmland supply in the Aoki area.
- 12.
From 2014, the government will start a new support system rearranging existing measures, including these ones.
References
Ando M (2013) Nogyokeieitai no tenkai to kouzou [Development and structure of farms]. In: Ando M (ed) Nihon nougyo no kouzou hendou [Structural change of Japanese agriculture]. Nourin Toukei Kyokai, Tokyo, pp 141–183
Ando M, Yamaura Y, Onaka K (2013) Daikibo keiei no seiritsu jouken [Realization condition of large farms]. Nobunkyo, Tokyo
Fu B (2007) Kankyo hozengata nougyo no seiritsu joken [Economic analysis of sustainable agriculture]. Nourin toukei kyoukai, Tokyo
Goda M (1996) Nihon ni okeru kankyo hozengata nougyo no genjo to sono kanousei [Present condition and potential of sustainable agriculture in Japan]. J Rural Econ 68(2):88–96
Hirauchi H, Ito T, Suzuki K, Uno T (2008) Miyagi ken Izu numa syuhen no touki tansui yuki suiden ni okeru dojo tokusei, suitou no seiiku syuryo oyobi genmai hinshitsu [Soil characteristic, rice growth yields and brown rice quality in organic paddy field with winter flooding practice around Izu pond in Miyagi prefecture]. Abstracts of the meeting, the Society of the Science of Soil and Manure 54, p 129
Ito R (2006) Toki no yaseihukki monndai wo keiki toshita kankyo hozengata nougyo no torikumi [Sustainable agriculture practice triggered by reintroduction of Japanese crested ibis]. Nogyo to Keizai [Agriculture and Economy] 72(1):51–60
Ito T, Kon C, Watanabe H, Mieda M (2006) Miyagi ken Tajiri machi Kabukuri numa syuhen no touki tansui yuki suiden ni okeru dojo tokusei, suitou seiiku oyobi metan housyutsu [Soil characteristic, rice growth, and methane discharge in organic paddy field with winter flooding practice around Kabukuri pond in Tajiri town, Miyagi prefecture]. Abstracts of the meeting, the Society of the Science of Soil and Manure 52, p 121
Kai S (2000) Conflicts and its synthesis between behaviors of profit maximization and environmental safeguard in large-scale farms. Rev Agric Econ 51(1):1–10
Kinoshita Y (2008) Nougyo keiei to nougyo kouzou [Farm management and agricultural structure]. In: Odagiri T (ed) Nihon no nougyo [Japanese agriculture]. Nourin Toukei Kyokai, Tokyo, pp 165–202
Kitahara K, Taniguchi Y, Sato S (2001) Rice marketing strategy and sustainable agriculture under the new distribution system. Jpn J Farm Manage 39(1):95–98
Kurita H, Mineta T, Ishida K, Ashida T (2006) Environmental potentials of winter-flooded rice fields for the wetlands restoration. J Jpn Soc Irrig Drain Reclam Eng 74(8):713–717
Makiyama M, Tsukamoto T (2006) The process of cooperation between winter-flooded rice field and no-tillege rice farming, and foresight of this culture. J Jpn Soc Irrig Drain Reclam Eng 74(8):719–722
Mineta T, Koizumi N, Ishida K (2009) Contribution of winter flooding in multifunctionality of paddy fields: some notes in a case of biota conservation function In Tajiri-Shinpo, Miyagi prefecture. J Rural Plan Assoc 27:335–340
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (2003) Kankyo hozengata nougyo (inasaku) suisinn nouka no keiei bunnseki tyousa houkoku [Research report of management analysis about sustainable rice farming], Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
Nakamura T, Ogura H (ed) (2012) Water quality improvement and ecosystem conservation of watershed by the winter-flooded organic farming rice-paddy. Lake Inba-numa Watershed Res Manage 1, pp 1–132
Nishikawa K (2013) Soshiki keieitai no tenkai to chiiki nougyo no kouzou hendou [Development of community farms and structural change of local agriculture]. In: Ando M (ed) Nihon nougyo no kouzou hendou [Structural change of Japanese agriculture]. Nourin Toukei Kyokai, Tokyo, pp 101–140
Noguchi R (2002) Ninaite no kouzou [Structure of agriculture actor]. In: Syogenji S (ed) 21 seiki nihon nougyo no kiso kouzou [Basic structure of Japanese agriculture in the 21st century]. Nourin toukei kyoukai, Tokyo, pp 132–169
Otake N (2005) Sado tou Niibo chiku ni okeru kankyo hozenngata inasaku no dounyu to tenkai heno kadai [Introduction and issues for development of sustainable rice farming at Niibo district in Sado island]. Saitama chiri [Saitama Geography] 29:19–30
Otake N (2010) Problem of paddy field rice cropping by the release of Toki in Sado-city. Stud Environ Symbiosis 3:78–88
Sekijima T, Kawaguchi Y (2009) Restoration scenario and capacity building for the resettlement of the Crested Ibis. Environ Res Q 155:130–138
Tanaka H, Kamioka M, Iwamoto H (2008) The measure and subject of environmentally conscious agriculture of the Toki no Tanbo wo Mamoru Kai of Niigata Sado. J Rural Community Stud 106:57–67
Watanabe R (2010) Toki-to kurasu sato dukuri ninsyo seido kara toki-tono kyouseigata syakai-no jitsugen he [From “toki-to kurasu sato dukuri” certification system to realization of symbiosis society with Japanese crested ibis]. Nouson-to toshi-wo musubu [Connecting rural areas and city] 60(9):36–42
Yagi H, Mineta T, Ashida T, Kurita H (2005) Farmland plot allocation for environmental conservation rice production considering irrigation system: a case study on winter-flooded rice fields. J Rural Plan Assoc 24:67–72
Yamaki T (1993) Jizokuteki inasaku keiei no nouhou to ninaite – Hokuriku chiiki no jirei wo sozai ni [Farming method and pillar of sustainable rice farming – case study in Hokuriku district]. Jpn J Farm Manage 30(4):15–25
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Japan
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kuwabara, T. (2014). Sociological Advantages and Challenges of Community Farms in Sustainable Agricultural Practice. In: Usio, N., Miyashita, T. (eds) Social-Ecological Restoration in Paddy-Dominated Landscapes. Ecological Research Monographs. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55330-4_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55330-4_17
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo
Print ISBN: 978-4-431-55329-8
Online ISBN: 978-4-431-55330-4
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)