| |
Welcome to The Joetsu Tokyo Nodai, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Organic Farm |
|
|
|
|
| |
Formerly abandoned fields, planted to buckwheat, |
|
| |
Nodai is the
abbreviation of Nogyo (agriculture)
Daigaku (university) , i.e., Tokyo
University of Agriculture (TUA). We are one of three corporations
established so far by the Tokyo Nodai, and operate an organic farm in Joetsu
City, Niigata Prefecture. Thus, we are the Joetsu Tokyo Nodai. Inc.
|
|
|
|
 JAS
Organic Mark |
|
|
We
produce organic products: rice (koshihikari), zucchini, pumpkin, kushinsai, potato, sweet
potato, radish, buckwheat, and many more different kinds of
vegetables, all in organic ways, certified by JAS Law.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Our farm is
located in hill areas, on slopes and terraces, which were formerly abandoned
by local farmers
due to
hardship and inefficiency in farm operations. We
cleared these abandoned fields and started growing crops more than six years
ago, first for organic cultivation experiments and more recently for
business. We realize the importance of sustainable
farm operations in hill areas for the conservation of national
resources, natural environment and landscape. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Abandoned
fields in early spring
 Clearing
abandoned fields by machine
|
|
|
|
On 26 May 2011, The Joetsu Tokyo Nodai Inc.
received the President Award from the
National Chamber of Agriculture, Japan, for our contribution to clearing
of abandoned farm lands. Actually the abandoned fields amount to more than
300,000 hectares in Japan, most of which are located in hill and mountain
areas. This is one of the major problems in Japanese agriculture, and
the government policy promotes clearing, rehabilitation and utilization of
these fields. We cleared about 10 hectares and have been conducting
organic farming for more than three years. It may be a small
contribution to the increased food production and conservation of national
resources, but our contribution was noted by the Government authority and
thus we were given the President Award.
We consider low income to be one of the
major reasons for abandoning the hill fields at the beginning. Abandoned
fields can be rehabilitated by machines, but the establishment of viable
farming in the following years is a major challenge. Low fertility and
harsh physical conditions continue. In order not to abandon the fields
again, we must continue our endeavor in farming so that it becomes
sustainable. Costs are high and production is limited, but we
are working hard to sustain our farming business.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
