People aged 39 or younger who began farming in 2012 amounted to 15,030, up 5.7% or 810 from the previous year to occupy 26.6% of the total beginning farmers, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
But the age group of 39 or younger was the only group which marked an increase, indicating the need to further encourage a variety of people to enter farming and continue the business.
The number of beginning farmers from non-farming families also marked an increase, rising 40% or 910 from a year before to 3,010. On the other hand, the number of beginning farmers who succeed their families’ farms or are employed on farms declined.
The ministry says the increase in the number of young beginning farmers is mainly due to government grants established in fiscal 2012 to offer such farmers 1.5 million yen annually for five years at the longest. The grant is provided to people who are newly engaged in farming under the age of 45 on a self-employed basis and are certified as motivated farmers in their rural communities, known as “ninaite.”
“The grants may be encouraging more people aged 39 or younger and people from non-farming families to enter farming because of specific requirements in terms of age and form of business,” a ministry official said.
Meanwhile, the total number of beginning farmers declined 1,640 to 56,480. The number rose in 2011, rebounding from the previous year’s declining trend, but showed a year-on-year drop again in 2012. The ministry official attributed the trend to economic conditions in other industries, saying that improvement in unemployment rates and recent moves to raise the retirement age are helping people stay in non-farming jobs.
(July 31, 2013)