Issues with Rapid Farmland Accumulation in Tsunami Disaster Area

A Case Study in Shichigahama Town

Abstract

In Shichigahama Town, Miyagi Prefecture, where a tsunami struck, farmland is accumulating to large farmers rapidly because of the retirement of affected farmers. Intermediary institutions that manage farmland are utilized for farmland accumulation there. The reconstruction assistance policy contributed to the creation of new principal farmers. But they couldn't use the land efficiently because farmers avoided the prolonged debate about land use adjustment. Mowing work concentrating on large farmers may prevent the continuance of their farming. It is necessary to support planning on efficient land use and role sharing of mowing work among farmers and farmland owners.