Tea Field Farming Method(chagusaba method)

The Chagusaba farming method is a traditional farming method that involves cutting grasses such as susuki and sasa around tea fields from autumn to winter and spreading them on the tea fields to improve tea quality, improve soil conditions, and preserve biodiversity.
This farming method is particularly common in Shizuoka Prefecture and was recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in 2013.

The birthplace of the tea field farming method is the Higashiyama district of Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture. This district is known as the center of “Shizuoka’s tea field farming method.”
The tea field farming method is a traditional farming method in which grasses such as susuki and sasa are spread between the rows of tea plants. This method is used to produce high-quality tea while preserving biodiversity.

The Higashiyama district of Kakegawa City is particularly active in tea field farming, and its landscape is one of the reasons it has been recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.

Grass cutting:
From autumn to winter, grasses such as Japanese silver grass and bamboo grass are cut from the grasslands (tea grass fields) surrounding the tea fields.

Spreading:
The cut grass is spread between the rows of tea plants. This protects the tea roots from the cold, retains soil moisture, and suppresses the growth of weeds.

Composting:
The spread grass gradually decomposes into organic compost, enriching the soil. It is also expected to improve the taste and aroma of the tea.

Tea grass field:
Tea grass fields are managed by mowing, which preserves the natural environment and provides a habitat for a variety of plants and animals.

Advantages of the tea grass field farming method:
Improved tea quality: The growing environment for tea leaves improves, enhancing the taste and aroma of the tea.

Soil improvement:
Organic composting increases the fertility of the soil.
Weed suppression: Covering the ground with grass suppresses weed growth.

Biodiversity conservation:
Tea fields provide an environment where diverse flora and fauna can thrive.

This farming method is recognized for its harmony between agriculture and the natural environment and has been designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).
It is highly regarded as an excellent farming method that combines traditional agricultural techniques with environmental conservation.

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) is a system certified by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that refers to unique traditional agriculture, forestry, and fisheries systems that have been passed down for generations while adapting to society and the environment.
Specifically, it certifies regions that are globally important in terms of agricultural biodiversity, traditional local knowledge, culture, and landscape, with the aim of preserving and promoting the sustainable use of these regions.

Traditional agriculture, forestry, and fisheries systems:
These systems have been passed down for many years, adapting to changes in the times and environment.

Living heritage:
These systems are not only considered heritage from the past, but also continue to be active today and should be preserved in a sustainable manner for the future.

Comprehensive systems:
These systems are evaluated comprehensively, taking into account not only agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, but also the culture, landscape, and biodiversity associated with them.

Sustainable use:
In addition to conservation, these systems are expected to contribute to regional revitalization and economic activity by utilizing their value.

Purpose of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems:
Biodiversity Conservation:
Traditional agriculture, forestry, and fisheries systems maintain environments where diverse organisms can live and grow, contributing to biodiversity conservation.

Cultural Preservation:
The aim is to pass on traditional knowledge, techniques, culture, and landscapes to future generations.

Regional revitalization:
Certified regions are expected to enhance their brand value and revitalize the regional economy by attracting tourists and expanding sales channels for agricultural products.
In Japan, “Noto Satoyama Satoumi” and “Sado Satoyama, Coexisting with the Japanese Crested Ibis” were certified for the first time in 2011.

Main differences between Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and World Heritage Sites:
World Heritage Sites focus on real estate such as buildings and ruins, with the aim of strict protection, while Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems target entire regions engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, with the dual objectives of conservation and sustainable use.

・Satoyama and Satoumi in Noto (Noto region, Ishikawa Prefecture)
・Satoyama coexisting with the Japanese crested ibis in Sado (Sado City, Niigata Prefecture)
・Shizuoka’s Tea Field Farming Method (Kakegawa City area, Shizuoka Prefecture)
・Aso’s Grasslands and Sustainable Agriculture (Aso region, Kumamoto Prefecture)
・Kunugi Forest and Reservoirs Connecting Kunisaki Peninsula and Usa’s Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Cycle (Kunisaki Peninsula and Usa region, Oita Prefecture)
・Ayu Fish in the Clear Nagara River (Upper and Middle Nagara River Basin, Gifu Prefecture)
・Minabe and Tanabe Plum System (Minabe and Tanabe regions, Wakayama Prefecture)
・Takachiho and Shiiba Mountain Mountainous Region Agriculture and Forestry Composite System (Takachiho and Shiiba Mountain regions, Miyazaki Prefecture)
・Oosaki Farmland (Oosaki region, Miyagi Prefecture)
・Shizuoka Wasabi Cultivation Region (Shizuoka Prefecture)
・Nishi Awa (Tokushima Prefecture)