The Impact of Farmers Leaving Agriculture on the Sustainability of Local Communities

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K23270
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0108:Sociology and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: TSUCHIDA Taku 徳島大学, インスティトゥーショナル・リサーチ室, 准教授 (90842196)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 離農 / 在孫離農 / 個人生活史 / ライフヒストリー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to examine the impact of farmers' leaving agriculture on the sustainability of agricultural mountain villages through their personal life histories. In the surveyed area of Monbetsu City, Hokkaido, the viability of dairy farming succession emerged as a crucial consideration for rural sustainability. However, the fieldwork conducted in this study revealed a positive aspect of farmers leaving agriculture, as it unveiled the lifestyle of elderly individuals who actively chose to transition away from farming and portrayed their affirmation of the decision.

Free Research Field

民俗学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来、農山村の持続性をめぐる議論において、農山村の多面的機能の維持や生きがいに繋がる高齢者農業は肯定的に評価されてきた。一方、農業を継続しないという選択が当事者にとってどのような意味を持っていたかについては、十分に調査研究されてきていない。当事者にとっての離農の肯定的側面も視野に入れ、生活の場としての現代農山村のあり方を多面的に検討していくことの重要性を「在村離農」の実態を通じて示唆した点に、本研究の意義を見出しうる。