The number of beginning farmers totaled 57,650 in 2014, up some 7,000 from the previous year, according to the farm ministry. New farmers under the age of 50 amounted to 21,860, marking a record high since 2007 when the ministry began compiling data by age groups.
The government has set a goal of doubling the number of farmers aged under 50 to 400,000 by 2023 as a part of its plan to revitalize the agriculture industry and rural areas. Farm minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters after the regular Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, that the government will make further efforts to increase the number of beginning farmers and help them maintain their business.
Ministry statistics show that the number of new farmers nationwide has remained around 55,000 yearly since 2010. In 2013, the number dropped to 50,810 as the economic rebound prompted many to choose jobs other than farming. However, the number recovered to 57,650 in 2014 helped by the increase of younger generation farmers.
The number of beginning farmers under 50 totaled 20,180, occupying 38 percent of the total. The ratio is up 9 percentage points compared with 2007, indicating that farming is becoming increasingly popular among young people. The latest data shows a change in the trend of beginning farmers, which had been mainly occupied by people aged 60 and over.
Hayashi pointed out that the system of offering financial assistance to young beginning farmers during the training period and the early stage is effective in encouraging people to start farming and continue the business. The system, which is subject to new farmers aged under 45 in principle, provides: 1. yearly assistance of JPY1.5 million for a maximum of two years for those who receive training at farms with advanced technology. 2. maximum yearly assistance of JPY1.5 million for a maximum of five years to new farmers certified by the local community as ambitious. A total of 12,500 people obtained the benefits in fiscal 2014, 1.8 times more than in fiscal 2012 when the program started.
Hayashi said the ministry conducted a questionnaire on municipalities in July, and found that a majority of them responded the program is contributing to the rise in new farmers.
(Sept. 9, 2015)