Did 20,000 part-time workers disappear?

The incident in the kingdom of Kankitsu, Ehime October 7, 16:48

Kotatsu mandarin oranges.

Have you ever imagined that you might not be able to see such a winter tradition?

Ehime Prefecture boasts the largest production of citrus fruits in Japan.

Every year, we gathered more than 20,000 part-time workers from all over the country to harvest oranges, but due to the influence of the new coronavirus, it is difficult to accept them as usual.

"I can't harvest as it is." --- The locals, who have become more vulnerable, are struggling to secure "mogite" with their own hands.

One month left until harvest.

We interviewed the site where we continue to search.

(Video Center reporter Shoko Tashiro)

Farmers who have relied on part-time jobs outside the prefecture

Mandarin district in Yawatahama, one of the leading mandarin orange producing areas in Japan.

A farmer, Yosaburo Jikyo (54), produces more than 100 tons of Satsuma mandarin annually in a field of about 3 hectares.

Since four years ago when I increased the number of fields, I hired a part-time job from outside the prefecture through a local JA because my family and local people were not enough.

Why do you need a part-time job?

To find out, let's first explain the production of mandarin oranges.

Many of the mandarin orange fields are well-drained and are located on steep slopes where the sun is evenly shining, so the work cannot be mechanized and requires human hands.

The peak harvest is from November to December.

After the season, the quality deteriorates and shipments from different production areas overlap, which affects the price.

It has to be done with a lot of manpower in a limited period of time.

Harvesting oranges is truly a "short-term decisive battle."

For this reason, JA, which has jurisdiction over the production area, has recruited part-time workers from all over the country from Hokkaido to Okinawa every year.

The total number of people is over 20,000 in one season.

Mr. Jikyo also emphasizes the size of the part-time job, saying, "Young and move well. I come every year and know the situation of the fields, so it is very helpful."

However, JA has stopped recruiting part-time jobs from outside the prefecture in consideration of the risk of infection with the new coronavirus.

This is the first time since we started the business of collecting from outside the prefecture in 1994.

For this reason, farmers have to find a part-time job on their own.

Fortunately, Mr. Jikyo contacted the three people who came in the past and made a promise to come again.

Some farmers, like Mr. Jikyo, have "repeaters" and have been able to secure human resources as usual, while others have been told by experienced part-time workers that "I can't do this because of Corona". Some farmers refrained from requesting, "I can't ask you to come from here even though it's a corona."

The public and private sectors are working together to secure human resources

In the crisis that we face for the first time, a person concerned with Kanki in Ehime Prefecture has stood up.

Instead of relying outside the prefecture, we are trying to secure human resources within the prefecture.

[1] Recruitment under extremely favorable conditions

First, JA and a temporary staffing agency collaborated to start recruiting more than 2000 part-time workers in the prefecture.

With the assistance of prefectures and cities, we will run a free shuttle bus from Matsuyama City to the production area, which is more than 70 km away, and secure accommodation.

On Nakajima, an island that is an hour's ferry ride from Matsuyama City, we have sold that one person can live freely in a large old private house or vacant house.

Of course, utilities and water are free.

This strategy targets the younger generation, including local students.

[2]

Even if you want to help

expand paid volunteers,

you cannot raise your hand because the company prohibits side jobs.

There is a paid volunteer system for such people.

For example, for seven and a half hours a day, 5,000 yen worth of coupons that can be used at local restaurants will be distributed to those who work.

The company that operated the dating agency in Matsuyama City came up with this mechanism.

Utilizing our matching know-how, we are aiming to secure a total of 1800 people, which is three times as much as last year.

[3] Cooperation with farmers of other crops

There was also a nice offer from young

farmers

.

From November to December, when the harvest of mandarin oranges peaks, it is actually a "low season" for farmers such as rice and vegetables.

A group of young farmers in the prefecture, which has more than 500 members, has decided to cooperate as a picker.

Chairman Terao

"I decided that I could support people in troubled areas as a fellow farmer in Ehime prefecture. It seems that the recipients think that" a reassuring number of people have come. " I want to dispatch in the form "

The same situation occurs in production areas nationwide

While the circle of support is expanding to secure a labor force, some people concerned say that they have relied too much on part-time jobs outside the prefecture.

We spoke with Fumio Kikuchi, director of the JA Nishiuwa Agricultural Promotion Department, which has jurisdiction over Yawatahama City.

Mr. Kikuchi

"It is a risk to focus on part-time jobs outside the prefecture. I have never thought about the risk related to people, and I was keenly aware of it due to the corona virus. Labor shortage is a structural problem of agriculture, and soon I can't change it, but I have to find a different way, such as a mechanism to share human resources in neighboring areas. "

Ehime Prefecture is not the only prefecture where there is a risk of labor shortage due to the impact of the new corona.

We have similar problems in Gunma prefecture, where cabbage is a specialty, cherry production area, Yamagata prefecture, and other production areas nationwide.

It has been said for a long time that there is a labor shortage in the field of agriculture.

Until now, we have managed to manage with foreign trainees, short-term part-time jobs, and ingenuity in the field, but the situation will become even more severe in the coming era when the population is declining and the population is aging.

Stable food security is also becoming important from the perspective of national security.

I feel that it is time to think more seriously about the agricultural issues that Corona has raised this time.

Video Center reporter

Shoko Tashiro

Joined the

station in

2005

After working at the Utsunomiya station and the sports news department, the Matsuyama station covered primary industries such as mikan and pearl oysters, and has

been in his current position since September.