Resumption of farming in farmland affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster

Abstract

Ten years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, and many of the affected farmlands have resumed farming. However, in the areas affected by the radioactive contamination caused by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the resumption of farming has been hampered by measures to curb the absorption of radioactive materials, reputational damage to agricultural products, and a declining and aging farmer population. In particular, the areas under the evacuation order, which were severely contaminated, are facing even more difficulties, such as a decline in willingness to resume farming due to the prolonged evacuation of residents. In this paper I want to discuss the development of technologies necessary for farming resumption in the areas affected by the nuclear power plant to overcome these difficulties.