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Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries which Support
Oita's Food Industry |
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Although it is small-scaled,
the agriculture industry of Oita Prefecture has advanced
with concepts of low-cost production, high-quality products,
and satisfaction of consumer's needs. The agricultural
output in FY1999 by products consisted of 23.8% rice,
24.3% vegetables, 24.0% stock farm products, 14.5% fruits,
and 5.5% flowering plants. The acreage of plantations
by rice brand was headed by "Hinohikari" (78%),
followed by "Hitomebore" (12%) and "Koshihikari"
(5%). Also, anumber of Oita's brands are renowned, such
as Bungo Beef, kabosu citrus, greenhouse-planted oranges,
negi (leek), roses, as well as processed foods of tea
and ham and so on.
Recently, Oita's agriculture has become increasingly incorporated,
and the number of newcomers who used to be city workers
and have just joined the field is also increasing. At
the same time, agricultural-based facilities or shops
have been promoting communication with consumers in the
city area more aggressively. "Oita Agro-Culture Park"
(Yamaga Town and Ajimu Town) were established in 2001
to improve the image of agriculture as well as to revitalize
agriculture. Increased communication, exchanges, and cooperation
with people in the city are expected. The "Kuju Mountain
Ranges" which is called "the Roof of Kyushu"
are found in Oita. The forest area occupies 70% of the
total area of the prefecture. The forest is not only the
producing center of cedar, cypress and bamboo, but also
of special forest products such as dried / fresh shiitake
mushrooms. Oita has established a "Mushroom Research
Institute", which is rare in Japan, for supporting
the cultivation of shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushroom,
which boasts the largest output in Japan, is cultivated
in every part of the prefecture. |
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Abundant Marine Resources |
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| The long coastline
of Oita Prefecture with a total length of 750km faces
the Setonaikai (Seto Inland Sea). The coastline has a
variety of geographic features; the northern coast is
shallow up to a considerable distance from the shore,
the middle section is the quiet Beppu Bay, and the southern
coast has a rias coastline. The varied coastline is blessed
with diverse marine products. Some of these products,
such as flatfish and yellow jack in the marine-culture
industry, and prawn and striped mullet in the marine fishery
industry have seen some of the biggest catches in Japan.
The catches of the soft-shelled turtle, an extraordinary
product, is the third l a rgest in Japan after Nagasaki
and Shizuoka. Fine soft-shelled turtle dishes can be enjoyed
in Ajimu Town. Oita also offers rich marine products which
are very popular all over Japan as branded products, such
as "Shiroshita Karei (flounder)" which used
to be presented as a gift to the Shogun's family from
Hiji Domain, "Seki Aji"and "Seki Saba"
(branded horse mackerel and mackerel) caught by pole-and-line
fishing, globefish in Usuki, cutlass fish in Kunisaki
and so on. Many such products became the local specialties
in each area as the products listed in the One Village
One Product Movement. In particular, some of them earn
more than one billion yen per year in sales, namely beefsteak
plant (Oita City), greenhouse-planted oranges (Kitsuki
City), shiro-negi leek (Bungotakada City), pears, milk
(Hita City), "Toyo no Iki Buri" fresh yellow-tail
(Saiki City, Yonozu Village, Kamae Town), leaf tobacco
(Notsu Town ) , mushrooms (Oyama Town), frozen processed
vegetables (Kunimi Town ) , fresh fish (Tsurumi Town),
fish dried whole (Yonozu Village), fluke (Kamae Town)
and so on. |
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Wheat Harvest (Oita City)
Takada-negi Leek
Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms
Mushroom Research Institute (Mie Town)
"Toyo no Iki Buri" Fresh Yellowtail
Soft-shelled Turtle Dishes
Number of Farming Households=>
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