The Structure of Skills in Agriculture: The Role of Unconsciousness and Affection

Abstract

To date, there has been no detailed study of the way in which unconsciousness and affection work in agriculture, especially from the perspective of tacit knowledge. Therefore, the problems hidden in the radical modernization of agriculture in Japan through the use of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) and so on, in recent years have not been clarified, and corrective measures have not been clearly defined.

In this paper, I discuss the fact that unconsciousness and affection constitute a component of skills in agriculture, and elucidate the role that affection plays in acquiring tacit knowledge. Accordingly, I show that excessive application of information science has led to a tendency for farmers to objectify crops and fields and keeps individual farmers away from acquiring tacit knowledge. In supporting transfer of farmers’ skills, a comprehensive approach is necessary that accounts for not only the acquisition of explicit knowledge but also awareness of the apprenticeship system, customs, beliefs, culture and the village community that promote the acquisition of tacit knowledge.