Japanese are getting back to the land in increasing numbers. Farm study tours are proving popular recently, especially among baby boomers who will begin retiring in large numbers starting next year.</PARAGRAPH>
<PHOTO>
<TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'>
<TR>
<TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2006/nn20061212f2a.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='190'/></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>An instructor teaches participants in an orientation tour at a farm in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, how to plant sweet potatoes.
</B> KYODO PHOTO</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TABLE>
</PHOTO>
<PARAGRAPH>The National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations began offering tours in 2000 to give consumers and farmers the chance to meet. The first tours were one-day orientations aimed at groups of 100 elementary school children and parents from large cities.</PARAGRAPH>
<PARAGRAPH>Five years later, as the number of people wanting to participate rose, the federation increased the size of the groups to 200 each and found more farmers willing to take visitors. Now the groups include people of all ages. </PARAGRAPH>
<PARAGRAPH>'This year there were twice as many applicants as –
places and there are people on a waiting list," said a federation official.
The secret of the farm visits' exploding popularity appears to be the hands-on experience they offer. Visitors can learn what it's like to plant crops on a working farm, rather than just watching a harvest.
"I could experience using a hoe, which I've never done before," said a woman in her 60s who took part in a tour.
"Next time I would like to learn about fertilizers," said a man in his 60s.
