Development of Wheat Production in Hokkaido

• NIHEI Takaaki

  Graduate School of Letters, Hokkaido University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 北海道における小麦生産の発展

Abstract

This study settles production centers of wheat in Hokkaido, whose production area of wheat is the largest in Japan, and examines the causes of development for wheat production focusing on renewal of varieties, agricultural policies and regional bases of agricultural production. Although the cool and dry weather of Hokkaido is suited for wheat production rather than the other regions of Japan, wheat was not the main crop of Hokkaido's agriculture historically, because they produced other corps such as white potatoes, sugar beets and beans and peas. Moreover, double cropping system of rice and wheat extended in Kanto and Kyusyu regions, and a large amount of low-priced and quality wheat was imported from the United States, Australia and Canada. The production of wheat in Hokkaido increased after the late 1970s since the subsidies for the sales of wheat and the policy of reducing rice cultivation were enforced. Also, the development of snow-resistant varieties of wheat enabled the extensive production of fall wheat (akimaki komugi), which is suitable for mechanization and large-scale faming.<br/>Production area of wheat in Hokkaido reached 120 thousand hectares in 2011 , and 90% of the area is fall wheat. Considering the distribution of wheat production in Hokkaido as shown in figure 3, the author pointed four production centers of wheat, i.e., Tokachi plain, Toumon-Kitami region, Ishikari plain and Furano basin in order of wheat production area. Furthermore, the wheat production centers are divided into two major regions, i.e., eastern field region (Tokachi, Toumon-Kitami and Furano) and western paddy region (Ishikari). The large-scale farms in the eastern field region, whose arable land reaches around 40 hectares, produce fall wheat and other cash crops such as potatoes, beans and sugar beets. The medium-scale farms in the western paddy region, whose arable land reaches around 20 hectares, produce fall wheat, spring wheat, paddy rice, beans and vegetables.<br/>To sustain the wheat production of Hokkaido, it is important to establish regional brands of wheat. However, frequency of changes in the names of varieties and the absence of well-known trademarks make it difficult to create regional brands. Wheat producing farms that take multiple farming would choose other crops if the amount of subsides for wheat is reduced. Subsidies should take account of more detailed standards in the quality of wheat including cultivation methods such as organic ways of cultivation. Also, consumers should be informed about agricultural policies in wheat exporting countries and their instability of wheat production.

Journal

• Geographical Studies

  Geographical Studies 87 (1), 1-13, 2013

  The Hokkaido Geographical Society

Keywords

• fall wheat (winter wheat)
• spring wheat
• Hokkaido
• production centers of wheat

Details

• CRID: 1390001205461844224
• NII Article ID: 130004596877
• DOI: 10.7886/hgs.87.1
• ISSN: 21865450
• ISSN: 18822118
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed