A Classification of Community Agreements According to Scale of the Agreements and Topographical Location of Farmlands for a Direct Payment Measure for Hilly and Mountainous Areas in Japan

— A Case Study in Former Tokamachi-shi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan —

Abstract

The aim of this study is to clarify characteristics of community agreements by classifying the agreements according to scale of the agreements and topographical location of farmlands from the aspect of sustaining farmland management for a direct payment measure for hilly and mountainous areas in Japan. As conclusions, it was clarified that larger-scale agreements which have large farm plots can sustain farmland management by corporative management activities or commitment of farmland management to agricultural production organization, on the other hand, small-scale agreements confront difficulty in maintaining farmland management owing to shortage of large farm plots and highly-motivated farmers.