Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Livestock sector in Japan - statistics & facts
The Japanese farming industry mainly focuses on crop production, with vegetables and rice making up by far the largest production value, while livestock farming only plays a minor role in agricultural activities. Overall, the agricultural sector in Japan accounts for only around one percent of the country's GDP, and it faces several challenges: Barely 20 percent of the mountainous island is suitable for cultivation and natural disasters such as earthquakes or typhoons regularly cause damages for the farming industry. Additionally, the sector is facing a decreasing number of active farmers as their average age is rising to over 68 years and many do not find a successor upon retirement. Consequently, Japan increasingly relies on imports for many agricultural products.
