ToyamaFarmer Detail

Representative	Akira Shimomura
Location	Kuramotoshin, Tateyama, Nakaniikawa District, Toyama, Japan
Natural Farming Since	2010
Main Produce	Rice (Koshihikari)
Cultivation Methods	outdoor-grown, natural cultivation (pesticide and fertilizer free)
Area under cultivation	5.3 ha
Naturally-Farmed Area	0.4 ha
Estimated Gross Yield	2940 kg

Comments on Location

Rice grown using the clear water from the Tateyama Mountains. On a cloudless day the Tateyama Mountains are clearly visible from the fields. It is the kind of place where one can’t help but be thankful for these soaring Tateyama Mountains and nature’s blessings. For generation after generation rice has been grown here for more than 100 years.

Reason for choosing natural farming

Having found that the drugs prescribed to me when I was ill were actually making things worse, it occurred to me that rice-plants would also do well without chemicals such as pesticides.

Difficulties presented by natural farming

Over the years the soil conditions change, which means that every year I have to be concerned about crop yields. Having to live with nature, with the climate and such means having to keep a watchful eye on things like water management.

Reason you are glad to have switched to natural farming

The number of times that people tell me, “your rice is tastier than the rice that I normally eat,” has increased.

What is farming for you ?

Farming is a precious industry, and one that shapes our future environment. It’s an industry that Japan should protect into the future.