Convert Fukushima farmland to develop renewables?

June 16, 2014

Gov't looks to deregulate farmland use in Fukushima for renewable energy development

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140616p2a00m0na004000c.html 

The government is looking to relax the requirements to convert agricultural land in areas near the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant that are designated as evacuation zones to non-farming purposes to promote construction of renewable energy generators on abandoned farms in the areas.

The move aims at tackling issues surrounding farmland use in 10 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture, including the towns of Namie and Futaba, which are under evacuation orders.

Agricultural land goes to waste when left abandoned, and farmers in these areas may avoid raising crops in fear of harmful rumors even after evacuation orders are lifted.

Farmland use is strictly regulated under the Agricultural Land Act, except in urban areas. In special zones for disaster recovery, however, converting farmland into non-agricultural uses is allowed as an exception if municipal governments establish restoration plans for local disaster recovery.

Many local governments, however, hesitate to work on farmland conversion as their land reconstruction plans must meet government-set requirements, which stipulate that farm land conversion must be "necessary and appropriate for disaster recovery" and "will not affect development of local farming."

The government is looking to turn the renewable energy sector into a key industry and is considering including plans to reduce necessary procedures for farmland conversion in its growth strategy that the Cabinet is set to approve by the end of June. It aims at simplifying paperwork related to farmland conversion that must be reported to prefectural and national governments and supporting farmland owners in procedures for land registration and land surveys.

Meanwhile, local farmland owners have requested the government to not just simplify procedures necessary for land conversion but also reduce regulation hurdles.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in March mentioned the possibility of including disaster-affected areas in "strategic special zones" that are subject to deregulation.

June 16, 2014(Mainichi Japan)