The Regional Structure of Japanese Agriculture in terms of Part-time Farming, 1960-1980

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the regional structure of Japanese agriculture in terms of part-time farming. For this purpose, the writer made up a matrix of the characteristcis of part-time farming by 3, 199 unit areas (shi, cho, son) in Japan. Factor analysis was then applied to this matrix. The mapping of the factor scores suggests the regional structure of part-time farming.Consequently, four regional distribution patterns were distinguished with regard to the regional structure of part-time farming in 1960 (Figs. 1-4), and four regional distribution patterns were distinguished with regard to the regional structure of part-time farming in 1980 (Figs. 5-8).Next, the relationships among these spatial patterns were examined by canonical analysis. Four statistically significant relationships were recognized between the regional structure of part-time farming in 1960 and that in 1980. The results are summarized as follows;1) Those regions with a larger percentage of full-time farmers in 1960, had become by 1980 regions with a larger percentage of full-time farmers and side-business types of farming (where income is mainly earned from farming), or with farmers continuously employed in non-agricultural jobs. And those regions with a larger percentage of side-business types of farming in 1940 (where income is mainly earned from other activities) had become regions with a larger percentage of the farmers engaged in part-time fishing, or farmers going to other regions to work (whose earnings come mainly from non-agricultural jobs).2) Those regions with a larger percentage of the farmers engaged in part-time forestry or as day-laborers (receiving earnings mainly from non-agricultural jobs) in 1960, had become in 1980 regions with a larger percentage of full-time farmers, farmers engaged in part-time forestry or as day laborers, and farmers going to other regions to work (mainly at non-agricultural jobs). These regions with a larger percentage of farmers continuously employed in non-agricultural jobs became regions with a larger percentage of farmers having their own enterprises and farmers continuously employed in non-agricultural jobs (as the principal source of their income).3) Those regions with a larger percentage of the farmers engaged in part-time fishing, going to other regions to work, or self-employed (and receiving their main income from such work) had become regions with a larger percentage of the farmers engaged in part-time fishing and going to other regions to work.4) Those regions with a larger percentage of the farmers engaged in part-time fishing or self-employed, had become regions with a larger percentage of the farmers self-employed in their own enterprises.