Changes in distribution of tulip bulb cultivation on the Kurobe alluvial fan

Abstract

Commercial tulip bulb cultivation was started by 14 farmers on the Kurobe alluvial fan in 1948. The number of farms peaked in 10 yr. While the number of farms has decreased since then, the hectarage of cultivation has remained largely unchanged, and production of tulip bulbs has been increasing. This paper depicts the changes in distribution of tulip bulb cultivation on Kurobe alluvial fan based on the data for each farm during the period between 1948 and 1991 to identify the regional conditions which facilitated tulip bulb cultivation on the Kurobe alluvial fan. Historical and distribution analyses identified several regional conditions as major factors for the formation of tulip bulb-producing regions. Favourable physical conditions include sandy soils, abundant water for irrigation, and a long period snow cover. Major socioeconomic factors are well-organised farmers' cooperatives, no major farm enterprises except for rice cultivation, high profitability of tulip bulb production in the 1950s and 1960s, good leaders and local organisation of tulip farmers, financial support from local and central governments. Personal factors such as willingness to commercialise agriculture and to continue tulip bulb cultivation are also important. -from English summary