Idle and Abandoned Farmland in Kashiwai-cho 4-chome, Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture

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  • MORIMOTO Takehiro
    Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for Japanese Junior Scientists (University of Tsukuba).

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Other Title
  • 千葉県市川市柏井町四丁目における不耕作農地の形成と農業経営
  • 千葉県市川市柏井町4丁目における不耕作農地の形成と農業経営
  • チバケン イチカワシ カシワイチョウ 4チョウメ ニ オケル フ コウサク ノ

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Abstract

This research examined the relations between farming and the abandonment of farmland in an intensive agricultural district at the urban fringe of the Tokyo metropolitan area. Kashiwai-cho 4-chome, the study area, had a considerably high ratio of idle and abandoned farmland compared to the total, as well as many viable farms which managed intensive cultivation and achieved a high rate of land productivity. The author investigated the landscape, farming and its changes, and the causes of the idling and abandonment of farmland by field surveys, interviews with the heads of each farm house-hold, and using statistical data.<br> The results are summarized as follows:<br> 1) In the study area, the amount of idle and abandoned farmland has increased since the 1970s. It accounted for almost 100 percent of the paddy fields, about 12 percent of upland fields, and about 17percent of total farmland in 1990. Unplanted fields dominated the paddy fields, and were mixed with such agricultural land uses as greenhouses, Japanese pear orchards, and vegetable fields at the end of August 1991.<br> 2) With the increased urbanization in the neighboring area, half of all farm households became part-time farms which are mainly engaged in non-farm work, or ceased farming altogether. But others changed their core products from open-air vegetables to greenhouse vegetables or Japanese pears in order to keep their farms operating full-time, or part-time with most of the household income derivedfrom farming. Viable farms-full-time farms and part-time farms mainly engaged in farming-accounted for 17 of the 27 farms visited; the rest were part-time farms with household members mainly engaged in non-farm work. Viable farms were classified into two types: greenhouse gardening (13 farms) and Japanese pears (four farms).<br> 3) Nine of the viable farms whose core products were greenhouse vegetables and flowers had idle and abandoned farmland. Total farm area of these nine farms was 9.74 ha, and total unplanted farm-land was 2.51 ha. Idled or abandoned land accounted for 10 to 60 percent of the land in each farm. The main reason for idling and abandonment was a labor shortage caused by specialization in intensive vegetable and flower culture. The cultivation of tomatoes, cucumbers, and flowers using green houses brought a high return from a relatively small area, although it required intensive labor input. The estimated suitable area was smaller than each farm's land. Thus, these farmers were able to idle and abandon some farmland. The second reason for abandonment, especially of paddy, was soil and water pollution caused by waste water from households and a garbage incineration plant in the area.<br> 4) Two of the viable farms whose core product was Japanese pears had idle and abandoned farm-land. Total farm area of these two farms was 2.5 ha, and total unplanted farmland was 0.65 ha. Idled or abandoned land accounted for 20 to 33 percent of farmland in each farm. The main reason for idling and abandonment was a labor shortage due to aging, sickness, or death of family members.<br> 5) Four of the farms among the part-time farms mainly engaged in non-farm work had idle and abandoned farmland. Total land area of these four farms was 2.08 ha, and total unplanted farmland was 1.1 ha. Idled or abandoned land accounted for 25 to 90 percent of the land in each farm. The main reasons for idling and abandonment were a labor shortage and a lack of motivation to raise agricultural income, both of which were caused by engaging in non-farm work. Another reason for abandonment, especially of paddy, was soil and water pollution.

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