Attributes and Management Characteristics of Allotments and Experience Gardens

Nation-Scale Analysis Based on Individual Data from the 2020 Agricultural Census

Abstract

This paper examines the basic attributes and management characteristics of farms that manage allotments and experience gardens. The research is based on individual data from the 2020 agricultural census. In total, 1,533 farms engage in allotment or experience gardens; about half are located in urban areas, whereas others are in mountainous areas. Many farms mainly grow horticultural products, whereas a quarter mainly grow paddy crops. About 30 percent of farms sell over 1 million JPY or produce through allotment/experience garden management. Moreover, most agricultural laborers engage in both agricultural production and agro-related business, and some tend to overwork.