In Kakegawa City, there is a subsidy program for individuals and corporations that produce tea within the city, and they can receive subsidies
Recently, Shizuoka's tea production has been declining, and it seems that Kagoshima Prefecture has surpassed it in production volume. This is due to an aging population and the large number of small, individually run farms, many of which are giving up. Kagoshima apparently has more large-scale farms using large machinery than Shizuoka
In contrast, matcha demand is booming globally, exports are increasing, and fierce competition for supply is driving up matcha prices. Organically grown tea, in particular, is scarce and therefore commands a very high price. It is said that only 3-4% of tea is organically grown without pesticides, making it extremely valuable. Furthermore, converting to organic farming is extremely difficult, as it requires years of work to prepare the soil, fertilizer, and the tea plants to a state where they can be harvested
Furthermore, while the price of sencha (green tea) had been on a downward trend until now, wholesale prices have skyrocketed in 2025. Until a few years ago, beverage manufacturers would purchase cheaper second-flush tea, but now the prices of second-flush and third-flush teas have surged, and it seems that this is causing difficulties for tea shops in their procurement
I recently saw news that China is creating a large-scale matcha production area and trying to market it to the world, so I think things like certificates of origin may become more important in the future. I think Kakegawa tea is a brand in itself, so I hope that farmers can create a sustainable situation where they can continue to produce it in a healthy and less burdensome way
The article introduces programs that support the purchase of large machinery, the cultivation of sweet matcha tea, organic farming aimed at obtaining organic JAS certification, and materials for shaded tea. I hope you will take advantage of these initiatives
Subsidy for the Kakegawa City Tea Plantation Joint Management Promotion Project
A subsidy program to support farmers in the city who operate tea farms under collective management, by providing assistance for the purchase of machinery for joint management of tea plantations
Subsidy for the Kakegawa City High Value-Added Tea Production Expansion Promotion Project
A subsidy program is in place to support individuals or corporations in the city that produce fresh tea leaves, providing assistance for the purchase of materials for organic or covered tea cultivation in order to obtain organic JAS certification
