Farming in Japan faces challenges due to limited suitable land, loss of farm workers to other industries, and pressure from imported cheap food. As a result, Japan developed specialized small-scale machinery to farm efficiently in small spaces, and techniques like hydroponics to grow crops without soil, allowing for high crop yields from limited resources.

1. Farming in Japan

2. Key ideas. Competition for space – only 1/5 th of Japan has land suitable for farming. Loss of workers – other industries more appealing. Pressure from other countries – cheaper food from other countries .

3. Labour Intensive Farming is very labour intensive, almost all work needed to be done involves labour E.g. Digging, ploughing e.t.c People don’t want to spend all day digging up ground.

4. Technology Due to the lack of free land, specific machines and equipment have been developed to help make farming more efficient.

5. Small scale machinery Down sized farm vehicles have been made to work better in the fields. Easier to use and operate, work more efficiently than a big machine in the given environment.

6. Hydroponics Vegetables grown without soil – efficient and very quick. Very efficient – up to 600 lettuces can be grown in 24 hours. Light, food and water controlled- specific amounts let in to the plants to grow them optimally.

7. Mind Map Draw a mind map on how you think Japanese farming has changed in the last 100 years. You have 10 minutes to complete this. Use pages 118-119 to help you.

8. Task Answer questions 1 & 3 on page 119

9. IL Create a case study on how farming has changed in a country of your choice. Include some techniques used and how they benefit the country.