Penetrate farming in Soma and to the world
[Testimony] Mr.Shohei Kikuchi, Owner of Oonomura Farm

Mr. Shohei Kikuchi, Owner of Oonomura Farm

People do not want to eat the produce from Soma. When there is produce from other prefectures, they don't look at ours. Those are the reasons why I decided to start farming in Soma, but I had regrettable experiences. Then I believed I could change the situation if I sent out the exclusive food from here to the world. I tried to raise eggs that were impossible to produce in the other areas. Also, I started to market Soma Dotare, a discontinued traditional vegetable. Nowadays, people come here from all over Japan and the world, knowing that I adhere to farming in Soma.
Foreign people who misunderstood about Soma see the city, eat the food, and send out their messages via SNS after they go home. The increase in visitors makes me believe the situation will change. I am sure the culture of farming in Soma will expand if school lunch programs and traditional festivals introduced Soma Dotare, the traditional vegetable.
The sea links to the mountains. They said the sea and farms in Soma were destroyed. However, once both are restored, Soma should become very famous as the town survived the disaster. My children coming to the rice fields and farms cheerfully with me gives me power. I believe the power will gradually overcome the disaster and change the world.