Japanese City Switches from Citrus to Avocados as Climate Change Bites
Axios (Tổng hợp từ english.kyodonews.net)
Farmers in Matsuyama, Japan, are shifting from citrus to avocado farming as rising temperatures and extreme weather make traditional crops less viable. Fuminori Arita, a former citrus grower, now finds avocados better suited to the changing climate. Local authorities note increasing avocado acreage in coastal lowlands, as scientists warn citrus areas could shrink by up to 30% by 2050.
Fuminori Arita was once a farmer specializing in iyokan, a Japanese citrus variety. But about ten years ago, he switched to growing avocados, embracing the challenge of cultivating a fruit he describes as “sensitive and difficult to grow.”
Mr. Arita’s decision is not just a personal story—it reflects a trend unfolding in Matsuyama City, in Ehime Prefecture, southwestern Japan, long known as the nation’s top citrus-producing region. Rising temperatures and increasingly frequent extreme weather have reduced citrus yields, while avocados adapt better to the warming climate.
Local authorities have noted an increase in avocado acreage in low-lying coastal areas that were once mostly citrus groves. Mr. Arita says the care required is highly technical—from irrigation and fertilization to pest control—but the harvest results motivate growers.
“Instead of fighting climate change, we have to learn to live with it and take advantage of it,” Arita said. He hopes Ehime avocados will soon compete with imports on the domestic market, especially as Japanese consumers increasingly favor locally produced food.
Meanwhile, climate scientists forecast average temperatures in southwestern Japan will continue to rise over the coming decades, potentially reducing traditional citrus cultivation areas by 20–30% by 2050. Farmers like Mr. Arita are ahead of the curve, turning challenges into opportunities with new crops.
