Chiba agriculture faces severe damage from heavy rainfall

Record-breaking heavy rainfall in Chiba Prefecture has caused extensive damage to local agriculture, impacting major regional products including peanuts, rice, and carrots. In Chiba City, rice farmers reported fields inundated with sediment, with some crops completely buried just weeks before harvest.

Carrot production has also faced severe setbacks. In some areas, heavy rain compacted the soil so intensely that newly sown seeds failed to germinate, forcing farmers to replant. Peanut crops have suffered from discoloration and rot due to exposure and flooding. The impact is visible in local markets, where regional produce is being replaced by goods from other prefectures like Miyagi and Yamagata.

In response, the agricultural platform Amekaze Taiyo, which operates the Pocket Marche app, has launched a support initiative. The company is selling “support products” from affected producers, waiving all sales commissions to ensure proceeds go directly to the farmers. These offerings include recovery support tickets and products where customers can choose to pay a premium to provide additional aid to those struggling with crop losses and financial instability.