Japanese citrus farmers switch to avocados as climate change warms soil
Pourquoi c'est important
Avocado cultivation in Matsuyama, Japan, is experiencing significant growth, with output increasing substantially over the past decade. This trend is partly driven by climate change, which is making more areas suitable for avocado farming.
The “joy of success is huge” given the challenge of cultivating avocados, said Arita, who started with seedlings he acquired from the city government.
His avocados now sell for around 5,000 yen (US$32) per kg (2.2lbs).
Aided by the local push, output of Matsuyama avocados began gaining momentum in 2009 and in the past decade has jumped over 12-fold from about 600kg in the 2015 financial year to about 7,300kg over the same period in 2024.
While suitable areas for cultivating mandarin oranges will gradually shift northwards, many areas that are deemed too warm for citrus fruit will become suitable for avocados, according to the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation.
Questions ouvertes
- What are the specific challenges Arita faced in starting his avocado seedlings?
- What is the projected future growth rate for Matsuyama avocados?
- Are there any government subsidies or support programs for avocado farmers in Matsuyama?
- What is the economic impact of this avocado boom on the local Matsuyama economy?
