Area affected by the Kumamoto earthquake Resume rice planting for the first time in 5 years 14:54, June 22, Kumamoto City Akitsu District
Restoration of some rice fields was completed in the Akitsu district, which straddled Kumamoto City and Mashiki Town in Kumamoto Prefecture, where the agricultural land was severely damaged by the Kumamoto Earthquake four years ago, and rice planting was restarted after five years.
In the Akitsu district, which straddles Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City and Mashiki Town, the Kumamoto Earthquake four years ago caused severe damage such as undulating farmland and broken waterways, and most rice fields could not be planted.
By the end of this spring, the pump that pumps water was repaired, and recovery was completed in about a quarter of the rice fields in the area. Local farmers have restarted rice planting for the first time in five years.
On the 22nd, from the morning, a farmer Hirofumi Ueda, along with his family, planted seedlings of the Kumamoto variety “Kumasan no Riki” in a rice field of approximately 2,000 square meters using a machine or by hand.
Mr. Ueda said, "I am happy to have planted rice. The scene before the earthquake finally returned. I want to make rice that is delicious."
Mr. Hirotoyo Takenaka of Akitsu Iino Land Improvement District, who is in charge of the restoration project, said, “We want the farmers to regain their vitality by planting rice for the first time in five years. We want to restore all rice fields as soon as possible.” It was.