Abstract
This paper focuses on a case study undertaken in Hiroshima Prefecture, in which a community-based group farming effort and new farmers have worked together to solve their respective problems, enabling the establishment of self-employment and the continuation of this community-based group farming operation. This paper clarifies the approaches used to solve these problems. Through the cooperation of two new farmers with an established farm in Hiroshima Prefecture, various human resources were accumulated and new economic activities, such as introducing vegetable production into a rice farm operation, were realized. In addition, the success of new farmers generated additional participation by new farmers thereby improving the circulation of various human resources in a mountainous area where depopulation and economic contraction have advanced.
