Rice Fields Dry Up After Metal Thieves Cripple Irrigation Facility

Rice farmers in Chiba Prefecture are dealing with an unexpected crisis after thieves stole critical metal components from an irrigation facility, leaving newly planted rice fields without water.

The incident occurred in Tonosho, a farming town in northeastern Chiba where rice paddies had recently been planted and entered one of the most important stages of cultivation.

Farmers were shocked to discover that some fields had begun drying out and cracking despite there being no drought. According to local officials, the problem was traced back to the Higashi-Imaizumi Pumping Station, a facility that uses pumps to draw water from the nearby Tone River and distribute it to surrounding farmland.

When workers inspected the site, they found that copper power cables had been cut and stolen. Several brass valves required to operate the pumps had also been taken. Authorities say the thieves broke into the locked facility by smashing a window.

The theft was discovered on April 27, but the damage has had lasting consequences. Without the stolen equipment, the pumps cannot operate properly, preventing sufficient water from reaching nearby rice fields. One local farmer, Shogo Tada, warned that the lack of water could seriously damage crops:

“Without water, the roots get damaged. The plants can’t absorb moisture or nutrients. Right now the ground is still somewhat wet, but if it dries out, the rice will wither and yields will collapse. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

The irrigation system has not yet been fully restored, and officials say there is currently no timetable for complete repairs.

The theft is not an isolated incident. Similar crimes have struck nearby pumping stations in recent months, including another facility in Tonosho on the same day and a separate case in neighboring Katori City in February.

To keep his fields alive, Tada has been forced to arrange for emergency wells to be dug. Each well costs roughly 100,000 yen, and he has already ordered three. On top of that, the pumps needed to draw water from the wells consume about 10,000 yen in fuel per day.

Frustrated by the situation, Tada questioned why thieves would target agricultural infrastructure at such a critical time of year.

The case highlights a growing problem in Japan, where rising metal prices have fueled thefts of copper cables and other valuable materials, sometimes causing damage far exceeding the value of the stolen metal itself.