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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