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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Lovers of terraced paddy fields

Human resource development activities and continued conservation of terraced rice fields through the "Terrace rice fields Eco-Gakuen Agricultural Course"

Activity grant

Project Description

There are many organizations with experience of using farm work to preserve terraced rice fields, but few environmental learning organizations have the amount of hands-on experience without using pesticides or chemical fertilizers needed for awareness, deepened knowledge, for proactive implementation, and to educate the next generation of successors. Through this project, the recently established environmental institution "Terrace rice fields Eco-Gakuen Agricultural Course" will form the basis of creating a system with increased support for biodiversity and environment, to deepen the understanding of agriculture and help provide continuous education and guidance as well as activities to ensure the preservation of terraced rice fields.

Fields
Ecosystems and the Symbiotic Society
Grant year
FY14/3 Activity Grants
Grant term
2 years
October 2014 - September 2016
Grant amount
4,800,000 yen
Activity region
Ichikawa-cho, Kanzaki-gun, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Summer rice terrace in Uchihao, Ichikawa-cho, Kanzaki-gun, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Overview of the Organization

Yuichi Nagasuga, Chief Director
Representative
Yuichi Nagasuga, Chief Director
Establishment
2007 (Incorporated into an NPO in 2010)
Establishment purpose
After listening to the various concerns about the loss of terraced rice fields due to depopulation, labor shortages, deficit management, and damage from wildlife, this project was established to help the continuation of terraced rice fields into the future. Through the dissemination of the multi-faceted role terraced rice fields play, and the building of relationships between students, land, cities, and the people of rural communities so a mutual understanding and collaborative relationship can be fostered, we aim to contribute to the creation of a sustainable recycling society through the hands on experience of agricultural communities and in terraced rice fields.
Recent activities
Ichikawa-cho, Kanzaki-gun, Hyogo Prefecture
Staff
2 full-time staff members, 2 part-time staff members, 175 full members
Annual operating income
8.16 million yen in 2012, 9.97 million yen in 2013, 127 million yen in 2014
WEB site
http://tanadalove.com/index.html
Recent activities
Since 2007, we have carried out tastings of the rice from terraced rice paddies in Universities and shopping districts, and have planted, sowed and harvested rice over 130 times. In 2009 we began an opinion exchange group, Pungmul Café, where views can be exchanged regarding agriculture and food. In 2012, we were awarded the 14th Human size town development award at the Hyogo Prefectural Governor's Prize Ceremony. We have collaborated with 112 organizations so far in the publication of 125 articles communicating to society the importance of terraced rice fields and agriculture. An old house in Ishigaki was also renovated for 10 migrants.