Tags：Food and AgricultureChugoku

On January 26, the first Western Japan Organic Farming and Nature Farming Method Research Conference was held at the Hiroshima International Conference Center with 190 participants from the Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu regions, including producers and agricultural policy officials. In July of last year, the “Green Food System Strategy Act” was finalized. In the midst of the desire for the creation of organic villages that work on organic farming throughout the community, we hope to expand the Nature Farming Method and create communities that work on Nature Farming and organic farming. The event was sponsored by the MOA Natural Farming Culture Corporation Chugoku Branch, Kyushu Branch, and Shikoku Branch.

 

Dr. Toshio Kijima, doctor of agriculture and representative of the Traditional Farming Culture Research Institute, gave a keynote speech titled, “Organic Farming and Nature Farming Method that will lead to the future.” He pointed out that conventional agriculture places a heavy burden on the natural environment. He explained the Nature Farming Method techniques centered on soil preparation as a method of food production that is friendly to people’s health and the environment. He said that the earth is made up of the coexistence of many life forms, and that organic farming and Nature Farming are essential mechanisms for coexistence and co-prosperity for the perpetuation of humankind.

 

 

Next, four producers from Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu gave presentations on examples of the Nature Farming Method and organic farming efforts in their communities. Mr. Masatake Fukumoto of Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture, introduced how he learned and started farming at a Nature Farming Method experience school opened by the city in partnership with the MOA Nature Farming and Culture Foundation. In collaboration with the city, the Nature Farming Method/Organic Vegetables Promotion Committee was established as a producer group for the purpose of delivering organic vegetables for school lunches and supporting new farmers. In addition to delivering vegetables to the school lunch center in the city, he shared about how they have developed the farmland of the local high schools and accepted trainees who aim to become farmers, as well as a part of the agriculture-medicine collaboration, by having future nurses experience farming.

 

Hitomi Hiraki, representative of the Tottori Zuisen Production Association, began working on the Nature Farming Method 34 years ago in order to protect the health of her family. She introduced an initiative in which organic vegetables have been sold at major supermarkets through collaboration with distributors and government officials, and have been delivered to school lunches. She also mentioned that she is participating in the prefecture’s Green Strategy Conference as a producer representative, and spoke of her determination to expand Nature Farming and organic farming throughout the Tottori Prefecture.

 

 

Akinobu Mori, representative of Aki No Yamazato Farm Hanafu in Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, studied the Nature Farming Method 12 years ago in hopes of contributing to food and lifestyles that support human health while preserving the ecosystem. He introduced various activities. He is working with like-minded community people, such as production and distribution initiatives in collaboration with the MOA Nature Farming Method Fukutomi Promotion Association and the Hiroshima Prefecture Organic Agriculture Research Association, and agricultural welfare in collaboration with welfare workshops.

 

Koichi Yoshii, a Nature Farming Method producer in Konan City, Kochi Prefecture, recalls that he started practicing the Nature Farming Method because he wanted his mother, who became hypersensitive to chemicals, to eat healthy vegetables. In addition to introducing activities such as agricultural experience events for those who want to start farming and kitchen gardens, he also presented the challenges he felt during the 12 years of working on non-fertilizer cultivation.

 

From the participants: “Representative Kijima’s lecture was practical, such as companion plants and techniques for growing vegetables, and I learned a lot.” (a producer) “It was very easy to comprehend the cases that were presented. I strongly felt that it is important to have bonding of people to people. My challenge is how to get together with like-minded people.” (a consumer) “I want to work on it in my town. I would talk to and collaborate with producers.” (a city council member).

 

 

 

Organized by: MOA Nature Farming and Culture Corporation Chugoku/Kyushu/Shikoku Branch Co-sponsored by: MOA Shoji Chugoku/Kyushu/Shikoku Sales Co., Ltd. Sponsored by: Chugoku-Shikoku Agricultural Administration Bureau, Chugoku Shimbun, Hiroshima Television, Hiroshima Home Television, NPO Shimane Organic Farming Association, NPO Yukibito, cooperation / Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu community MOA Nature Farming Method Dissemination Society Association