Growing rice with living things

Fukui Prefecture Echizen Shirayama Revitalization Council Mr. Hiroshi Inaba

At the time of interview 2015

The Hakusan area in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture is an agricultural area centered on rice cultivation.It is located in Satoyama, a place that can be said to be the original scenery of Japanese farming villages.There, there is the Shiyarama Revitalization Council, which practices eco-friendly farming methods, including the farming method that brings back storks, which takes into consideration the surrounding ecosystem.
When we analyzed the soil microbial diversity and activity values of the rice paddies of the 6 core members of this association, almost all of them exceeded 100, and the highest value was about 140. bottom.In addition, the taste of the rice is also very good, and in the 2014 contest, it was awarded "Special A".
We interviewed Mr. Hiroshi Inaba, the leader of this association's rice project, who grows rice together with living things.

Q. How do you feel about the analysis results?

Until now, I thought that rice fields with many microorganisms were close to nature.Until now, however, there has been no scientific way of knowing.
Looking at the results of the soil microbial diversity and activity value analysis this time, I realized that what I have done so far is not wrong.But how do we get higher prices in the future?Also, will this analysis result lead to profitable sales?I would like to consider etc.
I think that the analysis results are probably related to the taste value, but I would like to think about how to inform consumers.

A plate that analyzes the paddy soil of the Shiyarama Revitalization Council.The soil microbial diversity/activity value is 1,397,063, indicating that a variety of microorganisms are in good health.

Q. What have you been practicing so far?

Beautiful satoyama scenery

Following the policy of Echizen City, since 2004, we have been working on Fukui Prefecture certified special cultivation that does not use chemical fertilizers and halves the use of pesticides.
In 2007, four volunteers started a farming method to bring back the storks that used to live in this area.Specifically, it is a farming method that does not use herbicides and does not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers.The number of farmers practicing it has gradually increased, increasing to 4 in 2009 and now 9.
However, the Hakusan district as a whole has not yet taken action.The challenge is to increase the number of producers who practice this farming method.

Q. How would you like to work in the future?

I would like to increase the number of "feeling" producers by using soil microbial diversity and activity value analysis as a tool.In other words, we want to increase the number of producers who practice farming methods that can leave rice fields rich in living things to their descendants.In the days of my grandparents, it was natural to raise livestock and use no pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
I feel that the time has come for domestic rice production areas to compete with rice from other countries through the TPP.However, the rice farming we are aiming for is not a low-cost rice farming, but a rice farming that produces high-quality rice with care.By practicing current farming methods, we would like to protect the region and pass on the satoyama, which is rich in nature, to our descendants.