＜Aged communities in Sorachi are getting help from support workers, who are spreading in Kita Sorachi, introducing club activities and giving advice to farmers.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

The Hokkaido Shimbun Digital, an Internet site operated by the Hokkaido Shimbun (Sapporo City), features an article (dated June 19) titled " Aging Communities, Support Staff Help Spread in Kita Sorachi, Introduce Circle Activities and Give Advice to Farmers.

The article states the following

Kenichi Sakuraba, 66, a former agricultural cooperative employee, has been providing advice to four new farmers since 2007.

Kosuke Sato, 47, a second-year farmer who grows the town's specialty, sunflower watermelon, says, "They helped me apply for government and provincial subsidies. Mr. Sakuraba's participation in the New Farmer Fairs held in Sapporo and Tokyo has contributed to the town's efforts to combat depopulation, as three new farmers have started farming in the town.

Chiaki Mori, 49, a counselor at the Planning and Promotion Division, said, "Town hall employees are transferred after a few years, but village supporters do not have a fixed term of office. They are reliable because they have a long-term view of agriculture. The report states.

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