Coping Strategies of Japanese Farmers to Recent Challenges in K City, Chiba, Japan

抄録

Japanese agriculture has been facing various challenges such as increasing population of elderly farmers and lack of successors. Moreover, several environmental and market issues have tested the capability of Japanese farmers to cope. Through a case study approach, this study aims to clarify the coping strategies of farmers in K City, Chiba Prefecture to recent challenges and determine the issues to support and sustain their local agriculture. A series of visits were conducted in 2018 and 2019, and in-depth key-informant interview was conducted in June 2019. In-depth key-informant interview revealed that farmers from K City organized a Farmers’ Market at their own initiatives to sustain and support the local agriculture for the next 10 to 20 years. Since the establishment of the Farmers’ Market in 2003, the farmers faced pesticide residue reports on turnip and various vegetables in 2008 and 2010, respectively; radiation residue report as an effect of the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake and Nuclear Plant Meltdown have brought negative impacts to the farmers as harmful rumors on the safeness of the agricultural products from K City spread to name a few. Farmers have initiated innovative actions and adapted strategies to overcome these challenges. SWOT analysis revealed that the farmers, at their own expense, regularly tested the produce for pesticide and radiation residue to assure its quality and safeness. However, if not continued, misconception among consumers will prevail then lead to distrust. They even provided other services such as restaurant, café, farm tour and seminars. On the other hand, the farmers recently tend to supply to other markets aside from the Farmers’ Market, conveying a significant supply issue to be addressed. In general, these strategies and initiatives which reflect the farmers’ passion and motivation to achieve sustainability seemed to be the factors that made them resilient to the changing environment.