On Thursday, October 9, 2025, a group of 20 members of the Miyako District Sugarcane Technicians Association visited the Tropical Agriculture Research Front (TARF). The association consists of personnel involved in sugarcane production in the Miyako region, including representatives from local sugar mills, municipal offices, prefectural extension divisions, and JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives). The group engages in information exchange and technical discussions regarding regional sugarcane production and actively conducts field visits to production areas outside their islands. This visit was arranged at the request of the Yaeyama Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Promotion Center’s Agricultural Improvement and Extension Division.

Miyako Island is the largest sugarcane-producing region in Japan. However, the island lacks mountains and developed rivers, making it heavily dependent on groundwater for irrigation. This year, sugarcane growth was significantly delayed due to low temperatures from February to March, a short rainy season, and subsequent drought-like conditions after the usual end of the rainy season.

During the visit, Drs. TAKARAGAWA Hiroo (Researcher) and TERAJIMA Yoshifumi (Senior Researcher) introduced ongoing sugarcane research at TARF. Particular attention was paid to drought-resistance improvement research using related genetic resources under the Tropical Crop Genetic Resources Project (5th Medium to Long-Term Plan, FY2021–2025) and field trials on deep-planting cultivation and development of related equipment under the Yama-Sato-Umi Agroecosystem Connectivity Project. Participants showed strong interest in these initiatives, highlighting the relevance of TARF’s research to regional sugarcane production challenges.