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英語記事に慣れる「サクっと読む英文」

2017.10.3

New technology in Japan’s farms

Read the article to find out what new technologies are being developed for farmers.
農家のために開発されている新しいテクノロジーについて、記事を読んでみましょう。

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Japan’s farming industry is looking to new technology, like self-driving tractors, to deal with its lack of workers. Rural populations are decreasing, and the people who remain there are getting older. This aging population has found it more and more difficult to manage their farmland.

Farmers and manufacturers are particularly interested in creating “self-driving” tractors. These tractors do not need a person to drive them. Instead, the farmer can set a route and the tractor uses GPS to follow it. In theory, developers say, older farmers could complete most of their tasks without leaving their houses and even program these machines to work at night.

The first self-driving tractors are already available. Kubota Corp. released its first model for testing in June. At present, the Kubota tractor still needs a farmer to watch it while it works. However, the farmer can do this while driving another tractor, which means two machines can work at the same time. Kubota says this means the farmer can finish the task faster. 

Kubota and other rival companies like Iseki & Co. and Yanmar are working to make fully self-driving machines. One of the biggest remaining challenges is developing an accurate GPS system. Self-driving tractors need GPS systems to tell them where to go. At present, though, the systems are not always accurate enough, and the machinery can go off course by as much as 10 m. However, developers are working to fix these problems and hope to improve the GPS systems in the near future.

Farmers are looking at other ways to use technology to improve their farms. Other ideas include using computers to control temperatures inside farm buildings and water their plants more efficiently. Some scientists are working on machines to study the weather and help farmers protect their plants. In recent years, typhoons and hard rain have damaged farm plants, so giving farmers more accurate data is important.

The Japanese government says that self-driving tractors and other new ideas are very important for the Japanese farming industry. Currently, more than half of Japan’s farmers are over 65 years old, and the average age for a farmer is about 66 years old. The total number of people working on farms is falling every year. Between 2016 and 2017, the Japanese government estimates that the number of farm industry workers fell by about 100,000 people. As a result, farmers are often responsible for more land now than in the past.

Not everyone expects a completely high-tech future. Some farmers think that it’s wrong to use a lot of technology. Even farmers who use new technology often try to combine it with traditional farming techniques and knowledge. However, new technology may be essential because of the changing population in the countryside. Developers say that completely self-driving machines may be available in just a few years.

Japan’s farmers hope that new technology, like self-driving tractors, will help them with their work. There are fewer farmers and farm workers now than in the past. Farmers are also are getting older. It is becoming more and more difficult for them to care for their farms.

Farmers are particularly interested in “self-driving” tractors. These tractors do not need a person to drive them. The farmer can program a course. Then the tractor uses GPS to follow it. In the future, older farmers could do most of their work without leaving their house. Farmers could even program these machines to work at night.

The first self-driving tractors are already available. Kubota Corp. started selling its first model for testing in June. At present, the Kubota tractor still needs a farmer to watch it while it works. However, the farmer can do this while driving another tractor. That means two machines can work at the same time. Kubota says the farmer can finish their work faster.

Kubota, and other companies like Iseki & Co. and Yanmar, are working to make fully self-driving machines. One of the biggest problems is the GPS system. Self-driving tractors need GPS systems to tell them where to go. At present, the systems sometimes make mistakes. Sometimes the machine goes off course by as much as 10 m. However, makers are working to fix these problems. They hope to make better GPS systems in the near future.

Some farmers are trying other ways to use technology on their farms. One idea is using computers to set temperatures inside farm buildings. Computers can also water plants. Some scientists are working on machines to study the weather and help farmers keep their plants safe. In recent years, typhoons and hard rain have hurt farm plants. That’s why giving farmers better data is important.

The Japanese government says that new ideas are very important for the Japanese farms. Now, more than half of Japan’s farmers are over 65 years old. The total number of people working on farms is falling every year. The Japanese government said that between 2016 and 2017, the number of farm workers fell by about 100,000 people. As a result, farmers must care for more land now than in the past.

Not everyone wants to use new technology. Some farmers think that older ways are better. However, people in the countryside may need new technology to deal with their problems. Fully self-driving machines may be available in just a few years.

キーフレーズ

look to ~ ~に期待を寄せる、~を頼りにする

人や事柄に対して、何かを期待する、当てにする、という意味です。

例:I looked to him for help with the new program.
(この新しいプログラムについては、彼の援助に期待していた。)

deal with (問題などに)対処する、取り組む
rural 地方の
farmland 農地
self-driving 自動運転の
instead 代わりに
in theory 理論的には、理屈の上では

筋道や理屈に基づいて考えるならば、という意味で、可能性のあることや起こるべきことを説明するときに使われます。多くの場合、実際にはその起こるべきことが起こらないときに使われます。

例:In theory, I could graduate this year but I don’t think I’ll be able to finish my courses.
(私は、理論上は今年卒業することができるのだが、全課程を終えられるとは思えない。)

accurate 正確な
look at ~ ~に目を向ける
estimate 見積もる、推定する

程度や数量などのだいたいの目安をつける、見積もる、という意味です。

例:We estimated the cost to be about $2 million.
(私たちは、コストはおよそ200万ドルになると見積もった。)

expect 期待する

あることが当然起きるだろうと期待する、予期する、という意味です。

例:I expect her to arrive at around 8pm.
(彼女は午後8時頃に到着するだろうと思っている。)

combine 組み合わせる、合体させる

結合して一体にする、という意味です。

例:We combined our savings after we got married.
(私たちは結婚後に自分たちの貯金を合算した。)

こちらのコーナーでは、Gabaマンツーマン英会話の受講者様向け学習コンテンツ、「myRead」で取り上げた記事についてご紹介しています。日本語訳については、本記事における意味になりますのでご了承ください。
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