Yamaguchi Prefecture's Support Policy Aiming to Be "Japan's No. 1 Agricultural Workforce Support" to Solve Japan's Agricultural Labor Shortage

What are the support measures to attract young agricultural successors? Support is also needed until technology acquisition and management are stabilized. For example, depending on whether a graduate of an agricultural university gets a job at an agricultural corporation or engages in self-employed farming, the necessary support will differ. We examined Yamaguchi Prefecture, which aims to be "Japan's No. 1 in agricultural workforce support" and accepts more than 100 new farmers every year.

Yamaguchi Prefecture's "Japan's No. 1 in agricultural workforce support" is based on two pillars. The first is a support system for settling in when a town cooperative agricultural corporation, etc., newly hires people. The prefecture and municipalities provide 4.2 million yen over five years.

The second is support for those aged 50 to 64. For those who are excluded from the national "Agricultural Preparation Fund" whose target is under 49 years old, the prefecture and municipalities provide the same amount as the national government, up to 3 million yen in total for two years. The Yamaguchi Prefecture Agricultural Promotion Division says, "People in their 50s and 60s are still young when they return to their local areas.

Support is essential for a smooth start in agriculture." The number of new farmers has been steadily exceeding 100 since 2014, reaching 121 in 2023. Of the 147 graduates of Yamaguchi Prefectural Agricultural College over the past five years, 81 (55%) have joined agricultural corporations, etc. It is said that this ratio has been increasing recently.

JA Yamaguchi Prefecture has been supporting people who graduate from agricultural universities and work in agriculture with an amount equivalent to the tuition fees for the second year of agricultural university since 2019. 64 people have utilized it so far.

Ueyanagi Farm, an agricultural cooperative corporation that protects about 22 hectares of farmland in three villages in the mountainous region of Yanai City, Higashiatsubocho, Yamaguchi Prefecture, achieved generational change with young people two years ago. Hiroei Shibaoka (30), who graduated from Yamaguchi Prefectural Agricultural College, got a job outside the city, and in his fourth year became the representative, said, "I was attracted to town cooperative agriculture where everyone can work in agriculture together." It is a corporation that manages 21 hectares with rice and soybeans. It cultivates asparagus in about 70 ar and 11 greenhouses, and "it has led to stable income" (Shibaoka). They employ 18 part-time workers and Kazuki Hayakawa (25), a graduate of the agricultural college. The average age of the 56 people in the three villages is 72.1 years old. Former representative Seiji Yanai (70) explains the reason for the change in representative, saying, "We expect no more retirees returning to the area in the future. Young people are working hard, so young people gather there. Thanks to the prefecture's projects, it has been helpful. We want to thoroughly play the role of support."

Shibaoka has been attending local weeding events, festivals, and year-end parties with Yanai. Through participation, even if he cannot drink alcohol, "he can enjoy communication with people of different ages" (Shibaoka). Yanai adds, "It is also important for the local community to have the attitude of helping, rather than just entrusting difficult tasks to young people."

Yamaguchi Prefecture provides various support measures to increase the number of new farmers. For example, there are support systems for settling in when town cooperative agricultural corporations, etc., newly hire people, and support for agricultural preparation funds for those aged 50 to 64. Through such support, the number of new farmers has been steadily increasing in Yamaguchi Prefecture.