HOKKAIDO FRAM PRACTICE 2016
ムエン ヴァン キー
Hokkaido plays an important role in Japanese entire agricultural economy and feature large-scale management and mechanization. My parents are famers, but I had never done farm work actually. Since I came to study in Tokyo University of Agriculture, exploring Hokkaido, experiencing conventional farm work, living as a real farmer has become one of my most strong desires.
After a long time looking forward to- our abashiri’s farm practice started from August 29th until September 10th. The family that we went to Itagaki-san’s family mostly focus on sugar beet and root vegetable. It was the first time that I saw such a vast field full with sugar beet like that, and I thought: “This farm practice must be really tiring”. Exactly, Itagaki-san and we did together the simply work: grass picking. We were explained about the reason why grass picking seems simple but very important in farming. During this field practice, I woke up 6a.m and 6:30 we were having breakfast. I will never forget the delicious food made by Itagaki-san’ wife. Our work usually at 7 am until 12 pm, with a break time in the middle. I really liked this because at this time we rested with some snacks or cake and beverage. Luchtime was around 12 pm, and then we turned back to at 1pm until 5pm. In dinner time, I enjoyed because a part of tasty food, we set all together to eat and after that we spent hours talking and laughing but I regretted to not learning Japanese better to talk more with them.
This time Abashiri’s weather was cloudy, cool and suitable for grass picking. The first day, we weeded the field and harvested by hand potato plants that grew in the passage for the machinery. The following day we continue weeding other beet field and potato field. In the fourth day, we worked until 10am and then we went to barbecue party. I also met some friends who went to Hokkaido farm practice with me at there. In the eighth day, we did not have to work, we were travel around abashiri. We went to famous place at abashiri, and ate famous food. This practice , we also had two day for field trip to visit some of company and saw production process from raw materials until end-production. The last day of work, Itagaki-san said that we only work in the morning and the afternoon is time for rest, answering your questions to complete 手引き. I realized difference between Japanese Agriculture and Vietnamese Agriculture. Vietnamese farmers deny using machines than Japanese farmers and use of a large of number of chemical substance.
Thanks to Itagaki-san’s family, I did have happy time that I will never forgettable because it has become a part of unforgettable memories in my life, it is my experience.