According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the number of agricultural workers—those for whom farming is their primary occupation—has fallen below one million. This represents a halving of the figure from approximately 2.05 million in 2010 over the course of 16 years. While the average age has dropped slightly to 67.7 years, this change falls within the margin of error.
The decline of agriculture is a critical issue given its impact on the lives of the people and the national economy; nor can it be overlooked in light of recent concerns regarding food security. We must treat the task of halting this decline and revitalizing the industry as a major undertaking upon which Japan’s very survival depends.
Agriculture is often cited as an industry where one cannot make a good living. Statistical figures certainly seem to support this view. However, we must also consider the average age of agricultural workers. An average age of around 68 presents its own challenges, and while encouraging younger people to enter the field is essential, 68 is generally an age when people have retired from active careers and are living out their later years. To my knowledge, few elderly people are obsessed with earning money or work furiously, neglecting sleep and meals. Rather, most prefer a slower pace of work that combines personal interests with practical gain. In short, they adopt a working style where earning a high income is not the primary objective. It is likely that agricultural workers are no different. If so, it is premature to label agriculture an industry where one cannot make a living. We must base our judgment on the situation of relatively young farmers—those who approach their work with dreams and ambition.
Industries that attract young talent tend to show larger economic scales in statistics. Young workers are often supporting themselves and approach their jobs with dreams and ambition, leading to higher earnings that are directly reflected in the data. The same should hold true for young people in agriculture, but a high average age across the workforce can obscure this in the statistics.
Is it that young people do not enter the industry because it is unprofitable, or does it appear unprofitable simply because there are few young people involved? Shouldn’t discussions on revitalizing agriculture proceed with a clear understanding of this point? (Kei Kitajima)

※Translating Japanese articles into English with AI