noun
unused agricultural land; abandoned farmland; fallow fields
Refers to farmland that is not being cultivated, often due to abandonment or deliberate fallowing. Common in agricultural policy and land-use contexts.
この地域では遊休農地が増えている。
Unused farmland is increasing in this area.
遊休農地を活用して太陽光発電を導入する計画がある。
There is a plan to introduce solar power generation by utilizing abandoned farmland.
休耕田 specifically refers to rice paddies left fallow, while 遊休農地 is broader and includes any type of unused agricultural land.
耕作放棄地 emphasizes land that has been abandoned and is no longer cultivated, often with a stronger connotation of neglect, whereas 遊休農地 can include land temporarily left unused.
Compound of 遊休 (idle, unused) and 農地 (agricultural land). The term is a modern technical expression used in agricultural administration.