This is a report published by the Kagoshima Prefecture Sugar Industry Promotion Association in August 2025 regarding the production status and performance of sugarcane in Kagoshima Prefecture for the Reiwa 6 crop year.
Overall Performance for Reiwa 6 Crop Year
Despite typhoon damage in some areas, Kagoshima Prefecture's Reiwa 6 sugarcane crop showed favorable growth overall, recording production of 558,683 tons (7.5% increase from average year), harvest area of 9,566 hectares (0.5% increase), and yield of 5,840 kg per 10 ares (7.3% increase). However, all these figures fell short of the targets in the "Kagoshima Prefecture Sugarcane Increase Plan" (Reiwa 7 targets): harvest area of 10,300 hectares, production of 630,700 tons, and yield of 6,120 kg per 10 ares.
The prefectural average sugar content was 13.85 degrees (average year: 14.02 degrees), at average levels, with 99% of production (553,854 tons) processed as refined sugar raw material at 6 companies and 7 factories. By cultivation type, ratoon crops accounted for 7,168 hectares (75%), spring planting 1,445 hectares (15%), and summer planting 953 hectares (10%).
Production Status by Island
Tanegashima recorded significant production increases with harvest area of 2,339 hectares (4.6% increase from average year), production of 161,354 tons (21.0% increase), and yield of 6,898 kg per 10 ares (15.4% increase), with the new variety "Haru no Ougi," which began general cultivation from the Reiwa 4 crop, accounting for 59%. Okinoerabu Island also performed well with harvest area of 1,765 hectares (5.7% increase), production of 106,867 tons (25.0% increase), and yield of 6,054 kg per 10 ares (16.5% increase).
Meanwhile, Kikai Island, affected by Typhoon No. 10 (August) and Typhoon No. 13 (September) causing stem breakage and leaf damage, recorded harvest area of 1,357 hectares (1.2% increase from average year) but production of 67,121 tons (9.4% decrease) and yield of 4,946 kg per 10 ares (9.8% decrease), falling below average levels. Tokunoshima, the largest production area accounting for 33% of the prefecture's total, recorded harvest area of 3,143 hectares (4.9% decrease) and production of 172,944 tons (1.7% increase).
Mechanization Progress and Sugar Factory Status
Harvester mechanical harvesting was implemented on 97.4% (approximately 9,319 hectares) of the total harvest area, particularly reaching 98.8% on Kikai Island. The prefecture has been implementing a life extension program for harvesters that have exceeded their useful life since fiscal 2023, supporting functional improvements for 87 units through fiscal Reiwa 6.
At refined sugar factories (6 islands, 6 companies, 7 factories system), raw material processing volume for the Reiwa 6/7 period was 553,854 tons (8.3% increase from the previous year), with average purchase sugar content of 13.85 degrees (1.28 degrees lower than the previous year), but sugar production reached 63,520 tons (0.8% increase), exceeding the previous year by 502 tons.
The article concludes that to achieve the Reiwa 7 production targets, the prefecture will continue human resource development, mechanization promotion, and technical measures, with plans to formulate a new production increase plan in fiscal Reiwa 7 covering the 10-year period until Reiwa 18.