An audit found that Japan's subsidies for farmland conservation totaled 220 million yen more than necessary, with payments made for lands converted to residential use or poorly managed.
The Japanese Audit Office conducted an investigation into the national subsidies allocated for farmland conservation and found that between 2019 and 2024, at least 220 million yen was overstated in payments given to various local governments. These funds were improperly disbursed for lands that had been repurposed for residential use or were not maintained adequately, thus failing to meet the required criteria for subsidy eligibility. The Audit Office has urged the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to implement necessary improvements. In total, the audit examined 497 billion yen in subsidies distributed among 17 prefectures and 440 municipalities, finding significant instances of misuse in 207 cities and towns.
