This thesis portrays the biggest policy changes enacted from 2014-2020 and the effects these policies have had on the issue of utilizing and consolidating idle and abandoned farmland. The...Show moreThis thesis portrays the biggest policy changes enacted from 2014-2020 and the effects these policies have had on the issue of utilizing and consolidating idle and abandoned farmland. The agricultural sector of Japan is facing a multitude of issues such as an ageing farming population and decreasing workforce. Alongside this, a large amount of cultivable farmland in Japan stands idle and abandoned. In an attempt to alleviate these issues, the government of Japan and the involved ministries have enacted a series of policy changes in the agricultural sector. The biggest changes being the Farmland Banking program in 2014 and the revision of the Agricultural Cooperative Law in 2015. In the case of consolidation of farmland, business’ farmers share of the total farmland has risen by 6.7% from 2014-2019. However, from 2015-2020 the total amount of farmland has continually declined (-2.8%) as has the amount of farm management entities (-38.7%) and the total cultivated land under management (-10,99%).Show less
