Abstract
In Ryukyu Islands, coral reefs have been received damage by the soil erosion from the farmland for several decades. In this paper, we discuss the necessity of the environmental payment policy for the farmer and the directionality of the policy for the soil erosion prevention. Therefore, we did the hearing survey about the actual condition and recognition of the soil erosion to the farmers in Ishigaki Island where the soil erosion has become so serious.
As a result of the investigation, the following were clarified.
(1) The farmers who take soil erosion prevention measures think that doing prevention decrease the losses of revenue and the farmers who don’t take prevention measures think that doing prevention is high cost and low revenue, though it is not seen the difference about the field condition and the management organization between two groups.
(2) Between the measures farmers and non-measures farmers, there is a difference in the recognition for the influence, the evaluation, and the necessary thing of prevention of the soil erosion. And assistance measures to prevent the soil erosion were needed for the measures farmers more than non-measures farmers.
(3) There are a lot of farmers who think that engineering improvement of the farmland is necessary to prevent the soil erosion, and both measures farmers and non-measures farmers are with a sense of dissatisfaction about the land improvement projects.
Because the soil erosion crosses between farmlands, it is ineffective without all farmers do not execute measures. Therefore, a minimum restriction to the farmers is indispensable to prevent the soil erosion. However, if the restriction cause the extra cost to the farmers, environmental payment that cover the cost is indispensable.
