Overview of Organic Agriculture and Environmental Protection Activities in Aya Town, Miyazaki Prefecture - April 1997

Overview of Organic Agriculture and Environmental Protection Activities in Aya Town, Miyazaki Prefecture - April 1997

In Aya Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, organic farming using no pesticides and no chemical fertilizers has been promoted since the town was registered as a "Aya UNESCO Eco-Park" in 1988. Currently, about 70% of the town's farmland (about 600 hectares) is operated under organic farming, and about 1,500 tons of organic agricultural products are shipped annually. About 500 tons of organic rice is produced annually, with a yield of about 4 tons per hectare. Water quality monitoring of the Aya and Gokase Rivers, the main water sources in the town, has been conducted and no toxic substances have been detected. Furthermore, more than 90% of agricultural waste is reused, and there are more than 10 farms that utilize solar power generation. These activities attract approximately 30,000 tourists a year and generate approximately 1 billion yen annually for the town's economy.