Small-scale Agriculture of Elderly in a ‘Municipality at a Risk of Vanishing’

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Other Title
  • 「消滅可能性自治体」における高齢者の小さな農業とその意義
  • 「 ショウメツ カノウセイ ジチタイ 」 ニ オケル コウレイシャ ノ チイサナ ノウギョウ ト ソノ イギ

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Abstract

Released in 2014, the ‘Masuda Report’ indicated that some agricultural villages in Japan might disappear and that it may be necessary for the elderly of these municipalities to relocate to regional urban centres. However, some of these elderly play important roles in their villages, as farmers or agricultural conservation workers. When considering the future conditions of Japan’s agricultural villages, it is important to focus on the various activities performed by these elderly. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the agricultural activities performed by elderly based on the case study of Toshima, an island municipality in Tokyo Metropolis, which was identified as a ‘municipality at a risk of vanishing’ in the Masuda Report. In addition, the study considers the significance of the elderly s’ involvement in agriculture. Toshima is a remote island with a population of approximately 300 that lies 130 km south of the centre of Tokyo. Its principal industry is camellia oil, of which it is Japan’s largest producer. In addition, the island has a small leafy vegetable industry. Farmers from 32 of the 41 farms on Toshima were interviewed. The results reveal that the majority of farmers are senior married couples in their 60s and 80s. The wives have worked as farmers since their early days of marriage, while the husbands had joined the industry after retiring from non-agricultural work on the island. These senior farming households earned approximately one million yen per year by gathering camellia seeds, used in the production of camellia oil, and cultivating green vegetables. Such small-scale agriculture is only possible as it provides elderly with a principal source of income, apart from their pension. In other words, the study clearly shows that the small-scale agricultural activities of these elderly help to sustain Toshima’s local agriculture.

Journal

  • Geographical Space

    Geographical Space 8 (2), 305-313, 2015

    Japan Association on Geographical Space

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