Rice farmers dirty on soil thieves
MSN-Mainichi, November 5, 2005, SANDA, Hyogo --- Police and local farmers are on high alert following a series of soil thefts over the last three winters from rice paddies here....
...The prefectural agricultural center in Sanda wonders why thieves target soil in rice paddies. "Since the soil is clayish and holds fertilizer for a long time, it may be good for growing vegetables in pots. But do you think thieves dare steal soil just for the purpose of gardening?" an official said. Kiyoko Takashima, leader of a local gardening club, said rice paddy soil was not suitable for gardening because it contained too much clay..more...
