Gakken × Asahi Shimbun Kids Net

farmer

A person who makes a living by growing and selling crops and other products on farmland. There are rice farmers who grow rice in paddy fields, farmers who grow vegetables, fruits, flowers, etc., and livestock farmers who raise cattle, pigs, chickens, etc. for meat.

Perfect For …

A meticulous person. A patient and studious person. A person who is physically strong.

Job Details

Produce crops and sell them to consumers

They cultivate rice and vegetables in rice paddies and fields, grow fruit in orchards, and raise livestock to produce and sell meat, dairy products, eggs, and other foods. There are also horticultural farmers who grow flowers. It is difficult to produce the same amount of flowers every year because agriculture is greatly affected by weather and infectious diseases. However, it is very rewarding to have so many people enjoy the food that you have painstakingly produced.

Key Points !

If you want to become a farmer, take advantage of support from local governments and other organizations.

There are no qualifications required to become a farmer. If your family is a farmer, you can learn the work while helping out. Even if your family is not a farmer, you can still become a farmer. Although it is a hurdle to start farming out of the blue, local governments provide support for farmers, and beginner farmers generally take advantage of these programs to become farmers. They provide various consultations, such as agricultural training to learn actual farming operations, information on how to secure farmland, and methods of raising funds.

There is a way to farm as a "company employee" in an agricultural corporation.

You don't have to be an independent farmer to make farming your career. This is because companies see farming as a promising business and need employees to work in agricultural corporations. Since they can gain experience in farming while earning a salary, it is possible to accumulate funds while learning the business and become an independent farmer. In addition, agricultural corporations are always trying to improve efficiency by introducing the latest information and systems in order to increase profits. There is also a way to make use of the latest agricultural technology learned at agricultural high schools or agricultural universities in these companies. Some graduates of agricultural high schools or universities continue their research at agricultural experiment stations in each prefecture.

In the Future

Expectations for agriculture are high, and the job has great potential!

Japan's aging population and declining number of farmers are becoming a problem. On the other hand, with the high level of trust in safe domestic products and the accelerating movement to increase Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio, agriculture is in need of human resources. Moreover, agriculture itself is undergoing dramatic changes with the introduction of new technologies. We are now in an era of scientific thinking about food issues, such as indoor-managed plant factories and smart agriculture that utilizes robot technology. For those who are willing to take on new challenges, the future of agriculture is an attractive career.

Job Facts

Income.

Income varies depending on whether one is a full-time farmer, a dual-income farmer who also does other work, or a farmer who grows different types of products. On average, farmers in their 40s earn about 3-4 million yen per year. The average monthly salary for those who work for an agricultural corporation is about 250,000-300,000 yen.

Vacation?

It varies from region to region. In many cases, the day before the market is closed is a holiday. However, livestock farmers who raise cows, chickens, and pigs take turns feeding their animals. Rice farmers who have large tracts of land to grow rice cannot take a day off during the busy rice planting and harvesting season.

Where do you work?

Farmland, rice paddies, barns, and agricultural corporation workshops.

Your Future Path

It's a chart that shows at a glance the main routes to getting a job as a farmer!

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