In this study, the characteristics of farmland lease and the existence condition of large-scale paddy farming management in Hokkaido were clarified. Firstly, farm retirement became prevalent in rural communities and only a small number of large-scale farmers remained. Land value fell and elderly farmland owners opted to sell their farmland. On the other hand, large-scale farmers sought to accumulate more farmland. Thus, the leased land relationship is characterized by a shift toward buying and selling. Secondly, the farmland dispersal problem in large-scale farms was solved. The large-scale farms could be divided into a rice-growing village and an upland field crop village.
View full abstract