Presentation on agriculture and rural development policy in Japan under Pillar 2A at the 12th OECD Rural Development Conference on Delivering Well-being, 24-26 September 2019, Seoul Korea. Presentation by Toru Kumagai, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

1. 12th OECD Rural Development Conference
DELIVERING WELL-BEING
24-26 September 2019, Seoul, Korea
Agriculture and Rural Development
Policy in Japan
The Latest Trend for Age Friendly Rural Communities
Toru KUMAGAI
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Japan

2. 1. Challenges in rural areas in Japan
(1) Rapid Decrease in Population Especially, in less favored areas
(2) Continuous Decrease in Agricultural Workers Ageing is also serious
(3) Decrease in total Farm-land area Increase of wasted farmland
Population and ageing rate
in rural and urban areas
Changes in Population of Rural
areas, according to the area-type
Urban area
Flat farming area
Hilly farming area
Mountainous area
Index: Year 2015 = 100
1970 1985 1995 2005 2015 2025 2035 2045

3. 0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
S31 S36 S41 S46 S51 S56 S61 H3 H8 H13 H18 H23 H28
13,400,000
2,250,000
0
2,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
8,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000
14,000,000
16,000,000
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2010 2017
Upland field
Paddy field
Declined by 26.6%
(From 1961)
4.5 million ha
(2016)
6.1 million ha
(1961)
It is important to secure and develop motivated and competent farmers and prevent the
occurrence of and solve abandoned farm lands.
The average age: 67.0
(2015)
The average age: 59.6
(1995)
Source: The Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications “Labor Force Survey”
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries “Census of Agriculture and Forestry”
Source: The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Rural
Development Bureau “Survey on the Emergence and Solution
Situations of Abandoned Farm Lands”
1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016
(2) Continuous Decrease and
Ageing in Agricultural Workers
(3) Decrease in total Farm-land area
30.2% of the number of
employees in all industry
(44.36 million)
3.4% the number
of employees in all
industry (of 64.65
million)

4. [Common Policy to Support Agriculture-based Rural Areas]
[Agricultural Development]
1. Realization of “Smart Agriculture”
(1) Innovation, New technology for labor saving or ageing.
(2) Agricultural Infrastructure Development, for farmland
concentration/management extension (for flat area)
2. Inviting Newcomers in Agriculture
(1) Recruiting young new farmers
(2) Support to farmers ‘ successors
(3) Acceptance of Foreign Human Resources
3. Export expansion of Japan’s Farm Products and Foods
(1) Improvement of Rules in Trade (EPA/FTA, Custom, etc)
(2) Strategic Promotion
[Rural Development]
4. Rural Infrastructure Development
(1) ICT Utilization for Agric., Educate., Medics., Distribts
(2) Renewable Energy （Biomass, Hydroelectric, Solar)
(3) Disaster-resist Safe Villages
5. Full Use of Various Resources in Rural Area
(Exchange of population, using Multi-functionality)
(1) Countryside Stay (farm stay with various activities)
(2) Agriculture-Welfare Collaboration
(3) Prevention of damages due to wildlife, and utilization
of “gibier”
(4) Exchanges between urban and rural areas
6. Direct Payment System of Japan
(1) Direct Payment to the hilly and mountainous areas (Year 2000 -> ) <=== Basic idea was from EU’s Direct Payment
(2) Direct Payment for multi-functionality of agriculture (Year 2007 -> )
<=== Discussion of OECD-TAD (Trade and Agriculture Directorate) deeply influenced
(3) Direct Payment for environmentally friendly agriculture (Year 2011 -> )
(2019 Budget is about 3% of MAFF’s total budget)
2. Policy and Measures for Rural Areas
The latest trend for age friendly rural communities

5. Image of “Smart Agriculture”
Examples of Advanced Technology -- from Production to shipment --
Plowing・Leveling Transplanting・sowing Cultivation・Maintenance
Fertilization Harvesting Business Management
Self-driving tractors
Auto-run Sprayer
Remote-
controlled
Mower
GPS-using leveling machine Full-automatic planting machine ICT wild-boar capture cage
Remote sensing and
fertilization, using Drones
Asparagus
Harvesting Robot
Strawberry
Harvesting
Robot
Auto-cart for
harvested vegetables
Business management
system
Drone Sowing
Automatic Leek
Planting Machine

6. Full Use of Various Rural Resources
 A Farm Business Corporation employing persons with disabilities directly (Case in Shizuoka) Left column
 A Social Welfare Corporation participating in Agriculture including food processing and local restaurant Right column
Countryside Stay Agriculture and
Social Welfare
Planting with redesigned
tools
Support for Self-help
Work allocation, depending
on type of difficulties
Vegetable Processing
Local Restaurant
Creation of Employment
Lodging
稲刈り
収穫体験
もぎとり
郷土料理体験
カヌー体験
Experience
Family CuisineLocal Foods, using local farm products
Combination of Activities in Countryside Stay
Food
Old Folk
Houses
Home stay
in Farmer’s
Houses
Various
Activities in
Farming, Sports,
Cultural
Experience
Local Foods and Family
Cuisine, utilizing local farm
Products including
Forestry and fisheryOld Folk House

7. Farmland maintenance payment
Supporting local resources conservation activities
including mowing of farmland slopes
Mowing of farmland slopes Cleaning-up of irrigation channels
Resource improvement payment
Supporting simple repair of channels, agricultural roads
and ponds, and other cooperative activities to
qualitatively improve local resources
Repairing a channel Roadside Planting
Direct payments to farmers
in the hilly and mountainous areas
Supporting the
continuation of
agricultural production
in hilly and
mountainous areas
Direct payments for environmentally
friendly agriculture
Supporting agricultural production activities
contributing to natural environment
conservation
Terraced paddy field
Payments for activities to enhance
multi-functionality
Cover crop Organic Farming
地目 区分 交付単価円/10a
田
Steep slope（1/20～） 21,000
Gentle slope(1/100
～）
8,000
畑
Steep（15 degree～） 11,500
Gentle（８ degree
～）
3,500
【Major Unit Price】
Direct Payment System of Japan
Land type
Paddy
Field
Upland
Field
Classification Unit Price / 10a

8. 12th OECD Rural Development Conference
DELIVERING WELL-BEING
24-26 September 2019, Seoul, Korea
Thank you for your attention