In the western Japanese prefecture of Ehime, farmers have successfully harvested mikan tangerines for the first time since their orchards were hit by severe weather events in 2018. The city of Uwajima, particularly Yoshida Town, known for its citrus production, witnessed the devastation of its orchards due to heavy rains and landslides. One of the local farmers, Nakajima Toshimasa, experienced the loss of his tangerine trees during the mudslides. Following the disaster, about 220 saplings were planted to restore the orchards. These saplings have now matured and are bearing fruit.
Nakajima remarked on the importance of this harvest, noting the challenges of generating income from nursery trees. The harvesting process saw the involvement of volunteers, including Kagawa University students, who assisted using scissors. Among the volunteers, Tanaka Kentaro has been a consistent presence in the orchards for five years, expressing his astonishment and joy at the growth and fruition of the trees he once saw as small nursery plants.
Source: NHK World