Takao Furuno facts for kids
Takao Furuno, born in 1950, is a Japanese farmer who became famous for a special way of growing rice. He's also a social entrepreneur, which means he uses business ideas to solve social problems. He's a pioneer of "duck-rice farming," also known as aigamo in Japan. This method uses ducks to help grow rice naturally, without harmful chemicals.
Contents
Who is Takao Furuno?
Takao Furuno was born in 1950 in Japan. He lives in a countryside area called Fukuoka Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. He started farming using organic farming methods in 1978. Organic farming means growing crops without using artificial chemicals like pesticides or fertilizers.
Mr. Furuno says he was inspired by a famous book called Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. This book made him think about new ways to farm that would be better for the environment. He also earned a PhD from Kyushu University.
How the Aigamo Method Grew
After ten years of organic farming, Mr. Furuno learned about an old Japanese way of growing rice. This method used ducks to help get rid of weeds in the rice fields. It was called the "Aigamo Method."
What Ducks Do in Rice Fields
When ducklings are put into rice paddies, they help in several ways:
- They provide natural fertilizer for the rice plants.
- Their swimming helps to add oxygen to the water, which makes the rice seedlings stronger.
- They eat weeds and insects that could harm the rice.
Solving Challenges with Ducks
Mr. Furuno's first try with the Aigamo method was successful, but he faced some problems. One year, a disease destroyed his whole crop. For three years, dogs ate his ducks until he put up electric fences. Then, he had to protect his ducks from birds of prey that would try to catch them.
Mr. Furuno kept watching and researching. He figured out the best time to put ducklings into the fields (when they were 7 days old). He also learned how many ducks were needed for a certain area (15-30 ducks for every tenth of a hectare). He found out when to take the ducklings out (after 8 weeks) so they wouldn't start eating the rice.
Through his experiments, he also discovered that adding loaches (a type of freshwater fish) and a special water plant called Azolla helped the rice and ducks grow even better. These also gave the ducks more food. He strung wires across the fields to keep the birds of prey away.
Success and Spread of the Method
By 1989, Mr. Furuno had perfected his method. It became a sustainable way to grow organic rice and raise ducks. Today, his farm produces rice without chemicals. His crops are as good as, or even better than, those grown with traditional methods.
Mr. Furuno has successfully sold his "duck rice." It sells for 20-30% more than regular rice in Japan and other countries. His 3.2-hectare farm now produces rice, organic vegetables, eggs, ducks, and ducklings.
Through his writings, travels, and talks, his methods have spread widely. More than 75,000 farmers in many countries now use the Aigamo method. These countries include Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Iran, and Cuba.
Benefits for Farmers
Using the Aigamo method helps farmers in many ways:
- It increases their income.
- It makes their work easier.
- It reduces harm to the environment.
- It helps make sure there is enough food for local areas.
When the ducks are no longer needed in the fields, they can be used for food or sold. This adds more money and protein to the family's diet. Farmers using this method also have more free time. In the past, weeding rice fields by hand took a lot of time—about 240 hours per hectare each year!
See also
In Spanish: Takao Furuno para niños
