Discussion on Influencing and Limiting Factors on Sustainable Grape Farming in Yamanashi Prefecture of Japan

Abstract

Viticulture has been an important agricultural sector throughout history in many countries. In Japan, grape-growing areas cover 17,800 ha, and the estimated annual grape production is 172,700 tons. The leading prefecture for grape production and winemaking is Yamanashi Prefecture. The land area under grapevine cultivation in Yamanashi Prefecture is around 3,780 ha with an estimated production of 36,900 tons per year, while grape production and winemaking are two key sources of income for local farmers. However, despite many advances in grape and wine production, these sectors face significant challenges both in Yamanashi Prefecture and across Japan, including a shortage of qualified labor. There is a lack of information and studies that focus on examining factors impacting the grape and wine industry in Yamanashi Prefecture. The objectives of the current study were 1) to examine the economic characteristics of grape farmers in Yamanashi Prefecture, 2) to evaluate factors influencing and limiting the contribution of grape farming to household income, and 3) to assess challenges facing grape farmers and wine producers in the study area. Field surveys in the form of structured and semi-structured questionnaires were conducted with grape farmers and wine producers during the ripening and harvesting grape season in 2022. Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS software. The result indicated that on average, 80% of farmers in Yamanashi Prefecture were part-time farmers and had 1 to 3 ha of land, of which 40% was under grape cultivation and 60% under peach cultivation. The majority of respondents (88%) had a university education, while 12% had only a high school education, with female grape growers predominating (60%). The majority of the produced grape (80%) was sold fresh and only 20% was used for making wine. Most of the grape growers used the pergola method for training vines and preferred sandy and silty soil, with 90% of respondents using sprinkler irrigation. The results indicated that key environmental factors affecting grape bunches were light exposure, temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall, and the physiology of the grapevine by water and nutrients. The result showed that initial investments, labor inputs, small size of land parcels, and the depopulation of rural areas are the core factors that influence and limit the contribution of grape farming to household income. Therefore, if these issues are not considered, the long- term viability of sustainable grape production and winemaking in Yamanashi Prefecture will be at risk.