A survey on the current status of plant disease control by agricultural firms and farmers in Japan

It is vital that those who grow plants are able to effectively address the problems caused by plant diseases. Although growers and the increasing number of agricultural companies in Japan face various problems related to plant diseases, few studies have examined how they actually deal with such challenges and what kind of support they need. In July of 2007, we distributed questionnaires to 114 firms involved in growing and maintaining plants and to 224 farmers. We found that 94% of the firms and 93% of the farmers had encountered difficulties related to plant diseases. The results revealed a serious need for services related to the diagnosis, control, and prevention of plant diseases, especially among businesses. More than 60% of the business respondents spent more than one million yen to control plant diseases each year. Most respondents had positive results when they consulted an outside expert or professional body about dealing with plant diseases. However, only about 50% of firms had consulted an outside source, significantly lower than the proportion of farmers. In Japan, public institutions, such as agricultural extension centers, have provided support related to plant diseases for many years, but this support is directed primarily at farmers. The results of this survey indicate high demand for a new support system to help businesses address plant diseases more effectively.