Today's Situation of the Agricultural Organization and the Transition of Rural Community

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In this study, we tried to illuminate how the rural society is influenced by the transition of the rice production in Japan. We have made analyses of the tendency of rice production and rice farmer's attitude in the wet-rice production areas. Rapid economic growth since 1955 brought about dramatically the mechanization in rice cultivation and the increase to combine agriculture with non-farm work. Consequently, three types of rice farmer's intention appeared these areas. One for sole cultivation of rice, and the other for combination of other kind crops, and for chief income from non-farming source. Accordingly, new organizations have appeared, one express purpose of which is to facilitate cooperative farm operation and management. Wet-rice farmers began to engage in joint cultivation around 1960. Rice production groups are of three types. One for joint to use of a farming machine, and the other for collective cultivation based on agreements, and for farming all or part of someone else's land. Although the agricultural production union is still identified with the hamlet, but the distinction between hamlet and various organization is more and more inevitable. Rice production groups increasingly aim at self-interest.