A local branch of Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) in Yamagata Prefecture, which is known for producing the largest amount of cherries in the nation, will embark on a new method to secure workers for the busiest harvest months of June and July in cooperation of other JA branches.
The union plans to invite part-time farm workers from other prefectures during their agricultural off-seasons.
"Harvesting cherries must be done in a short period of time. We want as many workers as possible to come to Yamagata Prefecture," said a JA official in charge of the initiative.
According to JA Yamagata Chuo-kai, the majority of agricultural part-time workers prefer relatively long-term contracts. Because the cherry-harvesting season in Yamagata is short at about 1-1/2 months, it has been difficult to attract a sufficient number of workers.
Job advertisements seeking 400 workers were placed mainly in the prefecture last year, but only about 200 people were hired.
A farmer in Higashine in the prefecture said: "[Due to the labor shortage] we couldn't keep up with the picking and packing of cherries during the harvest. A certain amount of cherries were discarded."
To address the situation, the local JA branch has focused on employing part-time workers in conjunction with other JA branches.
The method was introduced last year by three JA branches in Naha, Furano in Hokkaido and Yawatahama in Ehime Prefecture. They have coordinated the hiring of part-time workers for different seasons of harvesting: sugarcane in Okinawa Prefecture from December to March; melons, watermelons and cherry tomatoes in Hokkaido from April to October; and mikan tangerines in Ehime from November to December.
Some young workers are said to prefer working in different places, as it provides opportunities to enjoy various local foods and landscapes.
"Last year, about 20 workers came here from Furano," said an official of JA Nishiuwa in Yawatahama.
JA Yamagata Chuo-kai was to hold explanation sessions on Thursday and Friday in Iheyajima and Iejima islands in Okinawa Prefecture for about 200 workers at sugar factories of JA Okinawa.
Yoshitaka Otake, who is in charge of human resources at JA Yamagata Chuo-kai, said: "There are people traveling around the nation looking for seasonal jobs. We want them to consider Yamagata Prefecture as one place to work."
"It's an innovative approach in which local entities struggling with labor shortages cooperate to secure sufficient workers. We expect such attempts to spread nationwide," said an official of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA Zenchu).
JA Yamagata Chuo-kai is scheduled to hold job fairs on March 22 and 23 for about 200 part-time employees working in JA Okinawa's factory producing sugar from sugar cane.
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