A Report of the Rescarches in the Economic Condition of yje Farmers in the Mountainous Region

The Laboratory of Agricultural Economics of Yamaguti University made an investiga- tion of the economic condition of the farmers in Susuma District of Yamaguti Prefecture, in 1952. The Susuma District in question lies 24 km. in the direction of the north of Tokuyama City. The economy of the farmers of thns district is, generally speaking, in a poor condition. For example the agricultural income of the small farmer is so small that it seems insufficient to support his family, and even the large farmer is also so poor that , he can hardly adopt any new effective farm-management system by using new machines and excellent live-stocks. The present economic status of the district seems to be due to the small area of arable land, where the farmer is unable to apply moderate farm management, and also to the fact that the forestry is insufficient to support the agricultural income or to accumulate the capital.