柑橘作農家における樹園地の分散と集団化

分散のメリット・デメリットの分析を中心として

抄録

In Japan, citrus fruits are generally cultivated on sloped land, and orchards managed by citrus farmers are fragmented into many blocks. The first purpose of this paper is to clarify the merits and demerits of fragmentation of orchards for citrus farmers. The second purpose is to clarify to what degree citrus farmers hope to achieve consolidation of orchards in future.
To approach the above subjects, I interviewed and sent questionnaires to citrus farmers in Yoshida town, Uwajima city. The results of the study are as follows:
(1) Most citrus farmers who manage more than ten farm blocks point out that fragmentation of orchards results in obstacle for farm work. In the case of a field lot smaller than 10 a, the efficiency of farm work decreases.
(2) About 70% of the citrus farmers recognize the merit of right variety for right land by fragmentation of orchards. To get the merit, farmers need to manage at least five farm blocks. Large scale farmers tend to pursue the merit willingly.
(3) Not so many citrus farmers recognize the merit of reduction of danger from disaster by fragmentation of orchards. But actually, citrus farmers can avoid crushing damage by typhoon, for orchards managed by them are fragmented.
(4) Most citrus farmers hope to reduce the number of farm blocks by half or one-third. For the merits of right variety for right land and reduction of danger from disaster, few farmers wish to consolidate farm blocks into one.