With a rapidly shrinking and ageing population, Japan is hiring farm workers from India. Hundreds of skilled labourers have already flown out with many more waiting in the wings
Nirmal Singh Ranswal, a Class XII pass-out from Champawat, Uttarakhand, steps out on the field with a measuring tape. On this particular morning, he needs to sow cabbage; between every two saplings, he must leave a precise gap of 30cm. For, that is the sowing pattern followed in large swathes of Ichihara located in Chiba prefecture in Japan, where he is employed.
With nearly 30% of the country’s population being over 65, Japanese agriculturists are recruiting farm labour from across the Indian countryside. About 18 people, including Ranswal, were the first ones to leave in 2022; there are hundreds more queuing up to fly out in 2023.
With nearly 30% of the country’s population being over 65, Japanese agriculturists are recruiting farm labour from across the Indian countryside. About 18 people, including Ranswal, were the first ones to leave in 2022; there are hundreds more queuing up to fly out in 2023.