2010 Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 159-166
The purpose of this research is to figure out the nationwide trend of agricultural nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and their activities throughout the country. The NPOs database showed that there are 943 agricultural NPOs in Japan until May 2008. This is 2.7% of the total numbers of NPOs 035,544). Agricultural NPOs are engaged in various kinds of activities such as, research, proposal and education (34.8%), agricultural support (31.4%), interaction between urban and rural areas (29.6%), farmland, forest and water (28.6%) and sustainable agriculture (21.6%). On the other hand, fewer agricultural organizations are engaged in organic certification (2.8%), cultural property (3.8%) and new farmer support (9.0%). 47.3% agricultural NPOs have an annual income of less than ¥1,000,000 and most of the NPOs have an annual income of less than ¥5,000,000 (72.6%). In comparison with all kinds of NPOs working in the country, agricultural NPOs can be considered as a group with less annual income. As for geographical distribution, 36% of the agricultural NPOs exist within 10km from their prefectural capitals. Furthermore, those within 30km account for approximately 60%. These results imply that most agricultural NPOs exist in and near urban areas, and fewer exist in rural areas.
