Technological Selection of Sugar Cane Farming in Ishigaki Island of Okinawa and Its Policy Implication

DOI Web Site

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 沖縄・石垣島のサトウキビ作経営群の技術選択とサトウキビ政策
  • オキナワ イシガキジマ ノ サトウキビサク ケイエイグン ノ ギジュツ センタク ト サトウキビ セイサク

Search this article

Abstract

This article analyzes the technological selection of sugar cane farming in the farm management in Ishigaki Island from the viewpoint of adaptive technological changes, and based on its results examines the reality and suitability of large-scale mechanized regional production system which the Japanese government has pursued in the structural policy for sugar cane farming in Okinawa. Through the analysis the following results were obtained: (1) the farm management in Ishigaki Island shares the basic strategy of adopting cost-saving technology which can cope with constraints imposed by the ecological environment of Okinawa, and especially the farm management which earns a living mainly from sugar cane farming will not choose the mechanical harvesting which simply replaces family labor forces unless absolutely necessary; (2) the large-scale mechanized sugar cane farming does not fully achieve the merit of scale under the ecological environment of Okinawa and will not gain the technological and economic advantage. Judging from the above findings we may say that it is unrealistic that the policy continues to pursue the large-scale mechanized regional production system which has a number of self-sustaining large-scale mechanized farm management in its core even if the further easing of farmland supply will occur due to the aging of farm households in the future. And also we may say that it is not appropriate that the policy tries to incorporate all the farm management into the regional production system centering on the contract mechanical harvesting which replaces family labor forces because it will exclude the farm management which cannot find out the rationality in adopting mechanical harvesting such as farm management of younger generations trying to maximize and secure the income from sugar cane farming. The results of the analysis indicate it will be more realistic and suitable that the Okinawan sugar cane policy pursues composite regional system of production embracing both mechanical and manual harvesting considering the meaning of each harvesting technology for the different type of farm management and the eventual contribution to sustaining the vitality of regional agriculture consisting of farm management including that of younger generations.

Journal

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top