Japan opens new website on agriculture, forestry, fisheries

June 25, 2019

Tokyo--Japan has launched a new website on agriculture, forestry and fisheries, targeting people with little connection to such businesses, including young people as well as the disabled and retired.

With the website, called "aff-terrace," the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries hopes to attract newcomers to such business areas at a time when the country is suffering from a severe labor shortage.

Aff-terrace combines the initials of agriculture, forestry and fishing with "terrace," which is meant to be a place where information is gathered. It sounds similar to the Japanese word "terasu," which means "to shine a light."

The website offers information for people who hope to find jobs in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors and have an interest in the so-called "sixth industry," where the agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries are combined with other sectors, including processing and distribution.

The website provides information on jobs, training and public support programs. It offers accounts of people working within the sectors, including the experiences of people new to the businesses.

The website is the brainchild of 17 ministry personnel in their 20s to 50s who volunteered for the project.

During their spare time, the personnel studied advertising strategies, website design and promotional videos. The name aff-terrace was also decided by them through a vote.

The ministry already has a similar website that provides information on support systems, including for loan programs, but the site is intended for people already operating businesses and has only 60,000 page views annually.

"While promoting the new website through social media and other channels, we hope to expand its content," said Kojiro Takano, parliamentary vice minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, who initiated the idea. Jiji Press