Pollination by drones: an alternative for cherry production
12 Mar 2025
The initiative aims to optimise fruit production and alleviate bee pollination difficulties at certain times of the year.
The heat waves are damaging the cherry harvest in the northeastern prefecture of Yamagata, the main producer of this fruit in Japan. Municipalities in the prefecture are struggling to secure a sufficient number of cherries for a program that involves sending gifts to people who donate money in exchange for a tax reduction.
The prefecture of Yamagata accounts for almost 80% of the national cherry production, but it is likely that this year's harvest will be much lower than previously expected. The extremely hot climate for two consecutive summers has produced low-quality cherries that are not suitable for shipping.
According to the prefecture, as of June 26, about 76,000 gift packages of cherries were affected, accounting for nearly 20% of the total.
According to the prefecture of Yamagata, some municipalities would not have been able to ship the cherries by the expected dates, or they would have had to send a different variety or size.
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Source: NHK World - Japan
Image: NHK World - Japan
