Japan's agricultural sector is facing its steepest decline in history, with self-employed farmworkers plummeting 25.1% since 2020 to just 1.02 million this year 🌾. The shocking figures from Japan's Agriculture Ministry reveal a perfect storm of aging workers and dwindling youth interest – threatening the nation's food security.
While the average age of core farmers slightly decreased to 67.6 (from 67.8 in 2020), this marks the first dip in three decades 🧓→👨🌾. Analysts attribute the change to mass retirements rather than fresh recruits entering the fields.
The crisis extends beyond labor shortages:
828,000 farm businesses remain (23% drop since 2020)
Record farmland abandonment expected
Corporate farming fails to offset losses
"This isn't just about fewer tractors – it's about preserving Japan's cultural heritage and dinner tables," said one Tokyo-based food policy expert. With climate challenges intensifying, the race is on to make farming appealing to digital-native youth 📱→🚜.
