Ladies and gentlemen, do you know the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System "Chagusaba Farming Method"?
To be honest, we didn't know the details until this year in 2016, but we liked the tea from the producer who was introduced to us during the new tea season.
The first tea I purchased was actually a producer of "Chagusaba farming method".
In addition, the producers who have been making tea together for many years since our company started are also certified producers of "Chagusaba farming method".
As a result, we were able to deliver a considerable amount of “Chagusaba Farming” tea leaves to everyone this year.
Therefore, if you investigate in detail, according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2015, among about 20,000 producers nationwide,
It turns out that there are 587 “Chagusaba farming certified producers”, less than 3% of the total! !
As for the quality, there are also “preferences”, so it cannot be said that all the tea leaves of “Chagusaba Noho” will suit “preferences”.
However, being able to deliver tea leaves from producers who have continued farming methods that value nature,
I think that it is very valuable as a specialty store.
And I'm happy that this year is not special, but that what I've been stacking up every year leads to something like this.
Below is an easy-to-understand explanation of the Chagusaba farming method.
What is a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System? |
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Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems is a registration system initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Initially, it came into effect as a system to introduce agriculture in developing countries and develop the region.
Currently, it is a registration system to preserve the world's important agricultural systems for future generations.
So far, 19 regions have been registered worldwide.
At the International Conference on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) held in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture from May 29, 2013, the Shizuoka Chagusaba Farming Method was recognized as the "Maintenance and Sustainable Agriculture of Aso Grassland". , "Kunisaki Peninsula Usa Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Cycle Connected by Sawtooth Forests and Reservoirs", and "Sado Satoyama Coexisting with Crested Ibis" and "Noto Satoyama Satoumi" are the third certified in Japan. It has been officially recognized by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
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"Shizuoka's Chagusaba" is a valuable example in the world!
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The Chagusaba farming method is a farming method in which pampas grass and bamboo grass harvested around the tea fields are applied as organic fertilizers to the tea fields. The grazing area where the grass to be fed is harvested is called Chagusaba. This Chagusaba farming method used to be seen all over Japan, but due to changes in production methods and the times, it is now only practiced in a few places such as Shizuoka Prefecture. Among them, tea farmers in Shizuoka Prefecture have traditionally believed that this farming method will improve the quality of tea.
This traditionally continued Chagusaba farming method has transformed Chagusaba into a special place where precious creatures (plants such as Bellflowers and animals such as the wingless locust "Kegawaki grasshopper") live. It was.
This region, where the farmer's activities and efforts to grow good tea and the preservation of biodiversity are compatible, is an extremely rare example in the world.
Therefore, five cities where Chagusaba has been confirmed to exist, namely Kakegawa, Kikugawa, Shimada, Makinohara, and Kawanehon, formed a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System Shizuoka Chagusaba Farming Promotion Council. I have been working towards registration.
At the International Conference on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), in order to produce better tea, tea farmers will use the semi-natural grassland around the tea garden, that is, the grass of Chagusaba, according to the Chagusaba farming method that has been handed down and continued in this area. We were evaluated in terms of biodiversity conservation and sustainable agricultural production activities coexisting with nature, that biodiversity conservation is protected by harvesting and managing
We believe that the long-term efforts of tea farmers who have continued to protect Shizuoka's Chagusaba have borne fruit.
However, registration as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System is not a goal, but a new start. We are proud of this certification and recognize the value of this farming method that has been handed down. We will continue to promote more sustainable agricultural production activities based on the GIAHS action plan for the Shizuoka Chagusaba Farming Method. We will continue to promote initiatives for biodiversity conservation. |
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