Aim High! New Farmer 39 | Passion and Timing for Acquiring Farmland
For me as a new farmer, acquiring farmland is a challenge like climbing a high mountain.
This is because local landowners do not simply open up their land to just anyone. This is especially true for someone like me who has just stepped into the area.
To overcome this barrier and acquire farmland, having a passion for agriculture alone is not enough.Building deep bonds with local people and gaining mutual trust is essential.
This article summarizes my thoughts after listening to the Voicy episode "Naoya Miyashita's Shinshu Apple Journey: Acquiring Farmland Requires Passion and Timing" by Miyachin, a 5th-generation apple farmer who has been in Nagano for 100 years.
1. Regional Aging and the Future of Farmland
The decline in the population continuing to farm and the aging of the population are significant problems throughout Japan.
This problem is also serious in Atsuma Town, Hokkaido, where I will be starting my new farming career. The average age of the 103 haskap farmers in the town is in their late 70s.Many farmers are struggling with a lack of successors.
This is a major issue for both the region and new farmers.
On the other hand, this situation holds new possibilities. If there are elderly farmers considering letting go of their farmland, it can be an opportunity for new farmers.
However, to seize this opportunity, simply needing farmland is not enough.Building a relationship of trust with local people is important.
2. The Importance of Community Connections
I am scheduled to move to Atsuma Town next April as a member of the Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad and undergo agricultural training.
I am excited because this new job is perfect for connecting me with Atsuma Town. It can be a great opportunity to connect widely and deeply with the local community of Atsuma Town.
In a small town like Atsuma, every single relationship with local people is extremely important for a new farmer.
I intend to start by learning about and respecting local traditions and culture.
Also, I will be able to receive agricultural training under Haskap Farm Yamaguchi Farm, and I will also be entrusted with the management of farms that are planning business succession.
Through such experiences, I hope that it will become easier to gain connections with haskap farmers and neighboring farmers.
3. The Power of Conveying Passion
To acquire farmland, learning agricultural techniques alone is not enough.
It is important to convey your passionate thoughts about agriculture and your enthusiasm for improving the region to the local people. Through my activities in Atsuma Town, I intend to spare no effort in conveying this passion and gaining empathy.
What I am aiming for is not just to become a haskap farmer. It is to make agriculture in Atsuma Town even more prosperous and contribute to the revitalization of the entire region.
While valuing local traditions and culture, I want to contribute to the development of regional agriculture by incorporating new technologies and ideas.
For example, wouldn't it be wonderful if I could breathe new life into the region through new product development using haskap, or by promoting haskap at local festivals and events?
Through these activities, I want to further deepen my connections with local people and build the trust necessary to acquire farmland.
Summary | Passion and Timing are Important for Farmland Acquisition!
For a new farmer, the exquisite combination of passionate enthusiasm and the right timing is the key point for acquiring farmland.
Having just one of these is not enough.
Building relationships with the community, having a passionate enthusiasm for valuing the region, and acquiring farmland at the appropriate time are the keys to success in new farming.
My new challenge in Atsuma Town starting next spring is an attempt to find this balance.
While conveying my enthusiasm for haskap farming to the local people and building a relationship of trust with them, I am also looking for opportunities to acquire farmland by responding flexibly to the needs of the region.
In particular, my role as a member of the Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad has great significance in this process. Through daily interactions with local people, I should be able to understand the current state of agriculture in Atsuma Town and find opportunities to grow together with the region.
This article was a good opportunity for me to think about this, as I dream of acquiring farmland, expanding my farmland, and taking on challenges in a new town, with hints from Miyachin's Voicy.
I've become even more excited about what's coming from April.
Thank you for reading to the end.
See you tomorrow.
End
Thanks to your support, the "Aim for it! New Farmer" series has progressed smoothly, and this is now the 39th article.
So far, we have covered:
1. Let's go meet farmers
2. What kind of public support is available for new farmers?
3. Summary | Knowing the hurdles and facing them
4. Is agriculture something you love?
5. Work experience at a Haskap farm
6. What is a Haskap?
7. Starting to press the accelerator and brake at the same time
8. Aiming for the top with technology
9. "If it's something you love, you should do it!"
10. Just like a Roomba! Grass-cutting robot
11. The path to becoming a new farmer through third-party succession
12. Taking over management from a Haskap farmer
13. Atsuma Town's support for new farmers is generous!
14. I visited the agricultural training facility
15. Haskap berries starting to color
16. One per farming family!? Radio-controlled sprayer
17. The agriculture I want to practice in Atsuma Town
18.Even on the same tree, the taste varies depending on the location!
19. Haskap, the enchanting fruit that is good for your health
20. Let's go Haskap picking!
21. Restaurant in the field at Yamaguchi Farm
22. Wanting to become a Calendula farmer... moving
23. The lifestyle of an artistic farmer
24. Why train? What should I train in?
25. What do I want to do as a Haskap farmer?
26.Making up my mind
27. Finding the agriculture I should aim for
28. Selling through the flow of Agricultural Co-op → Wholesale Market
29. Selling through direct-to-consumer methods
30. The difference between marketing and sales
31. How can I get people to buy?
32. What is an Agricultural Co-op?
33. How should I interact with the Agricultural Co-op?
34. The crops I grow myself are the most delicious
35. How can I get people to empathize with that deliciousness?
36. Streamlining traceability with blockchain technology
37. Using NFTs to visualize the distribution flow of my products
38. What are the challenges to achieving fair prices for agricultural and livestock products?
39. Is direct sales the ultimate destination?
40. Can I really start farming under such good conditions!? (Joy)
41. What kind of information should farmers be sharing?
42. If there is a story behind the crop, I want to support it
43. Agricultural products meet wonderful chefs and have their higher value brought out
44.Increasing the value of agricultural products through photography
45. Why do I want to do agriculture? Re-questioning the starting point
46. Learning from the perspective of a professional farmer
47. Learning under a professional farmer
48. Agriculture × Outdoors is a great match!
49. Let's increase the cards in our hand!
50. Success and failure
51. The benefits of doing agriculture near people
52. What exactly is an NFT anyway?
53. How do you use NFTs in agriculture?
54. What kind of information should I share with consumers?
55. Increasing the value of crops through branding
56. To know the region, start with the children
57. The dream of a smart farm! Future agriculture depicted by automatic harvesting robots
I am writing under this theme, and it is compiled in a magazine.
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