High soil microbial diversity and activity values that support organic farming that has been promoted based on a relationship of trust with consumers

Fukui Kiyoshi Nakagawa

At the time of interview 2011

Kiyoshi Nakagawa, one of the leading organic farmers in Fukui Prefecture.He has been practicing organic farming in paddy fields for about 20 years, creating paddy fields inhabited by snails and frogs over many years, and selling safe and secure rice directly to consumers.The soil microbial diversity and activity value of the soil in his field exceeded 210 million, showing an amazing figure of 88.1 deviation values.
We asked Mr. Nakagawa about his thoughts on organic farming and his analysis of soil microbial diversity and activity values.

Q. Your soil microbial diversity and activity values are among the top five rice farmers in Japan.
How do you feel about this result?

I was very surprised because I didn't expect such a high result.
Up until now, I am proud that I have done a certain amount of things myself, so I expected that I would be able to achieve comparable numbers.I am happy that what I have done so far has been proven numerically.

A plate that analyzes soil microbial diversity and activity values in the paddy rice fields of Mr. Kiyoshi Nakagawa. 2,163,260 is a very high value

Q. What specifically have you been doing?

The presence of snails in the rice fields is proof of safety and security.

We got organic JAS certification in 2000, but we have been doing organic farming for about 20 years.Currently, the overall management is left to the successor, and the actual farm work is shared between the two.
Over the last 20 years, I have been very careful about winter management.My farm is located on flat land where irrigation water is inconvenient in winter, and the scale is 2ha.With the understanding of the surrounding farmers, we have been practicing winter water rice fields for the past year or two by having them supply water even in winter.Until then, the rice fields were cultivated several times in the winter, and the surface layer was covered with gradual fertilizer to survive the winter.
I made my own manure.The basic idea is to return the by-products from your own fields to the rice fields instead of bringing in cow dung from outside.Rice husks, straw, rice bran, and even soybean meal are used as raw materials for fertilizer.

Q. Please tell us about your thoughts on promoting organic farming.

We place the utmost importance on building relationships of trust with our consumers.Without consumer support, organic farming cannot continue.
The rice we produce is sold directly to 50 to 60 consumers, and the rest is sold at local direct sales outlets, not on the market.I deliver directly to 10 to 15 consumers who live nearby, and at that time, I talk directly with consumers to deepen exchanges.We deliver to consumers in distant places such as Tokyo, Kobe, and Kyoto by home delivery.In addition, I run a direct sales store with a colleague, and I also sell there, and I try to interact with consumers who come to the direct sales store.
We sell rice for 550 yen per kg, but considering the cost, we really want to sell it at a higher price.We also receive a subsidy, so we keep the selling price low with the idea that half of it will be returned to the consumer.
I don't use herbicides in my field, so snails live there.There are spots on the rice, but we tell our consumers that snails and spots on the rice are a sign of safety.

Mr. Nakagawa explaining about eco-friendly rice paddies at a workshop
(Center orange shirt)

Q. What are your expectations for soil microbial diversity and activity?

When we analyzed soil microbial diversity and activity values, we received a soil mark sticker from the DGC technology that analyzed it, so we put that sticker on the rice and deliver it to consumers. .Some consumers are interested in the sticker and ask questions.In that case, we will notify you on the DGC Technology website.In addition, consumers who have learned about the high value of my fields are re-evaluating the organic farming that I have been doing.In the future, I would like this analysis method to spread from points and lines to surfaces.Among agricultural cooperatives, there are some that set a hurdle for things such as taste, and purchase products that exceed the hurdle at a higher price.I hope that the soil microbial diversity and activity value will become one of the indicators.