Local News

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries released the results of its annual survey of farms operated by rural communities. As of February 1, there were 13,577 such operations nationwide, a 34.9% increase since the survey was first held in 2005. Kyushu accounted for 2,562 of these operations, a 65.8% increase since 2005, and the second-highest of the 10 blocs in the country. The ministry is promoting these joint operations to lessen the burden on individual farmers, many of whom have other jobs, by sharing equipment, promoting more efficient land use, and ameliorating the lack of local farm workers.