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Last year, there was a succession of events that would bring about significant changes to agricul-ture in Japan such as the formulation of the “Agri-cultural Competitiveness Enhancement Program” by the government and the ratification of the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) Agreement at the Diet. Coincidentally, Japan is experiencing a structural issue, namely the generational change among farmers, a decline in domestic demand due to an overall decline in the population in Japan, and moreover, environmental changes such as the com-petition on a global scale over farmland, water, and food. For these reasons, we, the JA, are also being inexorably asked to reform our businesses and activities.

Reforms are sometimes accompanied by unbear-able pain, but if the members, officials, and employees of the JA Group who share the coopera-tive philosophy unite and strive toward self-reform that we have decided, I am confident that we can definitely turn this predicament into an opportunity.

Meanwhile, in the international community, cooperatives have been receiving increased recog-

nition. In November last year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) decided to register cooperatives as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. This is the result of the high acclaim given to the philosophy and the businesses of the cooperatives, and it means that the cooperative movement that has

4771, Aihara-machi, Machida-shi, Tokyo 194-0211 Japan URL : http//www.idaca.or.jpTel: +81-42-782-4331 Fax: +81-42-782-4384 E-mail: idaca-idaca@j.email.ne.jp

No. 108March 31, 2017

Toward the New Year

THE PRESIDENT’S GREETINGToward the New Year ------------------------------------- 1REPORTS ON TRAINING PROGRAMS(1) FY2016 ICA/Japan Training Course on Fostering Leaders to Reinforce Business Development of Agricultural Cooperatives ------------------------------- 2(2) Training Course on “Management of Farmer’s Market through Agricultural Cooperatives” under the Project for Strengthening Capacity Building in Agriculture Sector in ASEAN Countries --------------- 3(3) FY2016 JICA Training Course on Planning of Agricultural Policy ---------------------------------------- 4

Contents(4) FY2016 ICA/Japan Training Course on Improving Capacity of Rural Women ---------------- 4(5) FY2016 JICA Training Course on Development of Agricultural Cooperatives and Improvement of Management Capacity (B) ------------------------------ 5EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OF IDACA TRAINING COURSE PARTICIPANTS(1) Exchange Meeting with High School Students -- 6(2) Sports Event with JA National Education Center Master Course Students -------------------------------- 7Editor’s Note ----------------------------------------------- 8

THE PRESIDENT’S GREETING

Choe OkunoPresident, IDACA

(President, JA-ZENCHU)

Recently, the meat of wild boar, deer, etc. called “gibier”

(French word for “game” or “quarry” in English) has become popular. Although this is a luxury food that peo-ple rarely have the chance to eat, it has started to become a familiar dish in recent years.

Here at IDACA, which is located near an area that is abundant in nature and not far from Mt. Takao, it is not uncommon to see wild animals. However, wild birds and animals have increased excessively, causing damage to agricultural crops by feeding on alpine plants and the barks of cedar and cypress trees, and it is true that this has become a major problem for agriculture and forestry and

the natural environment. In areas sur-rounding IDACA, members of hunting clubs have set up wild boar traps for the purpose of vermin elimination. Under these circumstances, we received infor-

mation at the end of last year that a large wild boar weighing more than 80 kg was captured in a trap set up within the premises of the adjacent JA National Education Center.

On the front page of “The Japan Agricultural News” dated January 3, there appeared an article reporting that “Nihon Jibie Gakkai (Japan Gibier Society) would be established by the summer of this year.” However, I read the article with hope that rather than just eliminating ver-min that cause damage to agriculture, if the effective utili-zation of the meat can be promoted by creating a mecha-nism for sanitation management and market distribution, it could lead to revitalization of the local community, and the common people could more readily enjoy “gibier” dishes.

Nevertheless, we must not forget that human beings took away the dwelling places of the animals that origi-nally inhabited the natural environment and created an environment that made it difficult for the animals to live.

Editor’s Note

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been conducted all over the world is an important property of the human race, and to carry on and promote this movement is being sought by the international community. Encouraged by this high acclaim given by the international community, we must proactively promote the movement to get more and more people to learn about our coopera-tives as an organization that cherishes the local community.

In its history dating back more than 50 years since its establishment, IDACA, which is a mem-ber of the JA Group, has contributed to the devel-opment of human resources that will lead the coop-erative movement in the world. Moving forward, we intend to contribute to the creation of a better society by further promoting the philosophy and practices of cooperatives, while collaborating with fellow members of cooperatives in the world. This training course was held in Japan as

a part of the “Project for Strengthening Capacity Building in Agriculture Sector in ASEAN Countries,” which was entrusted to JA Zenchu by the ASEAN Secretariat. It was conducted at IDACA from August 14 to August 27, 2016 with 20 participants invited from 10 ASEAN member coun-tries.

Although the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) achieved eco-nomic integration at the end of 2015, the member countries have a number of com-mon issues in the agricultural sector. Among them are issues that require initia-tives through the strengthening of agricul-tural cooperatives and the like. In response to this, the latest training course was aimed at having the participants learn about such matters as the operation and management techniques for agricultural product direct sales shops operated by JAs in Japan and explore meth-ods of selling agricultural products that can possi-bly be put to practice in ASEAN member coun-tries. In line with this, lectures and field study vis-its were set up. During the field study visits, the participants went to Gunma Prefecture, and visited five JAs in the prefecture (JA Maebashi-shi, JA Sawaisesaki, JA Kanra-Tomioka, JA Agatsuma, and JA Oura Tatebayashi) as well as five direct sales shops, in-shops, and agricultural processing centers in the respective area of jurisdiction of each

of the JAs. In addition, the participants toured the local wholesale market, and were greatly stimulat-ed by learning about such matters as the mecha-nism of the distribution of agricultural products and the diversity of the sales methods. At the end of the training course, the participants drafted action plans based on such themes as starting up direct sales shops that are suitable for their own countries, as well as the introduction of in-shops, and showed enthusiasm for conducting activities in their own countries.

At Sawada Agricultural Product Processing Facility within the business area of JA Agatsuma

(1) FY2016 ICA/Japan Training Course on Fostering Leaders to Reinforce Business Development of Agricultural Cooperatives

REPORTS ON TRAINING PROGRAMS

This is a training program for semi-developed countries of Asia, where agricultural cooperatives have devel-oped to some extent, and the current fiscal year marks the last fiscal year of three-year program. This year, six offi-cers and employees of the coopera-tives of four countries – India, Malay-sia, Mongolia, and the Philippines – were invited to comprehensively learn about the activities of multipurpose agricultural cooperatives in Japan (farming and marketing businesses, credit business, mutual insurance busi-ness, welfare services, etc.). In areas around Tokyo, the participants visited Zenkyoren’s Makuhari Training Cen-ter, JA ZEN-NOH Agricultural R&D Center, JA ZEN-NOH Fresh Produce Marketing Corporation (Kanagawa Center), Hattori Dairy Farm, and Megmilk Snow Brand Ebina Plant. Fol-lowing the previous year, the participants went to Shizuoka Prefecture during the last week of July, and visited the Shizuoka Prefectural Agricultural Training Center of the Shizuoka Prefectural Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, Fukuroi Pearl Rice Mill of the JA Shizuoka Keizairen (Prefectural Economic Federation of Agricultural Coopera-tives), Shizuoka Welfare Hospital of the JA Shi-zuoka Koseiren (Prefectural Welfare Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives), JA Oigawa, JA Enshu-Chuo, and Hamamatsu City Central Wholesale Market. They learned about such matters as the overall condition of agriculture in the prefecture, various initiatives undertaken by the JA Shizuoka Group, the overall condition of the welfare busi-ness and the elderly welfare business in the prefec-ture, the marketing business of JA Shizuoka

Keizairen, the activities of Youth Associations of primary JAs, methods of managing direct sales shops, and the roles of wholesale markets. In addi-tion, this year, the participants moved on to Nagano Prefecture from Shizuoka Prefecture and observed the soy sauce processing facilities of JA Shinshu Suwa and Miyasaka Brewery Co., Ltd. as case examples of sixth industrialization. From the multipurpose businesses of JAs, the participants not only acquired a large number of ideas to improve and strengthen their country’s agricultural coopera-tives but also deepened their feeling of affinity toward Japan and the Japanese people through the brief interactions with all the staff members and officials who gave their cooperation at each place they visited. The participants returned to their home countries after completing their action plans that incorporate the ideas they acquired through this training program, and are currently making efforts toward realization of their plans.

Visit to JA ZEN-NOH Fresh Produce Marketing Corporation (Kanagawa Center)

(2) Training Course on “Management of Farmer’s Market through Agricultural Cooperatives” under the Project for Strengthening Capacity Building in Agriculture Sector in ASEAN Countries

JA-ZENCHU and ASEAN Secretariat staff participating in the IDACA Party

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(4) FY2016 ICA/Japan Training Course on Improving Capacity of Rural Women

(5) FY2016 JICA Training Course on Development of Agricultural Cooperatives and Improvement of Management Capacity (B)

A training course intended for eight women leaders from countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia was held for one week from September 6, 2016 in Thailand and for about three weeks after that in Japan for the purpose of supporting organized initia-tives by rural women who play an impor-tant role in the revitalization of local com-munities. In the program in Japan, the par-ticipants were blessed with the opportunity to visit Mie Prefecture whereby they were able to learn extensively about the mecha-nisms of agricultural cooperatives, activi-ties of women’s association, and the situa-

Commissioned by JICA, we conducted a new training course that started from the current fiscal year intended for the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe, in which nine people from seven countries – Albania, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Ukraine – participated from September 19, 2016 to November 12, 2016.

Such issues as access to markets and f inancing, creation of added value through agricultural processing, and the creation of production, sales, and distri-bution systems commensurate with EU standards with an eye to accession to the EU cannot be easily resolved through sol-itary activities in small-scale family-based agriculture, and it is considered that initiatives through strengthening of organiza-tions such as agricultural cooperatives will be nec-essary. Therefore, the main objective of this train-ing course is to acquire necessary knowledge and information for dismantling the socialist coopera-

tives and establishing autonomous agricultural cooperatives.

In field study visits, the participants visited JA Hadano in Kanagawa Prefecture, JA Miyoshi in Hiroshima Prefecture, and JA Nagano and JA Mat-sumoto Highland in Nagano Prefecture and learned about the operation and management methods of JAs in Japan. In addition, the participants visited such places as Ota Wholesale Market, JA ZEN-NOH Fresh Produce Marketing Corporation, direct sales shops of various JAs, and Roadside Station Hachioji Takiyama in order to learn about such matters as sales and distribution methods, as well as such places as Miyoshi Winery, Megmilk Snow Brand Ebina Plant, and Hattori Dairy Farm in order to learn about techniques to create added value to agricultural products.

In the second half of the training course, the par-ticipants had the opportunity to listen to the experi-ences of people who have been dispatched as experts to developing countries and involved in such matters as project management. The training course ended successfully, with participants voic-ing comments that they were able to acquire tips that they may be able to use in various situations in their home countries.

A visit to Karasawa Farm within the business area of JAIgahokubu

At Megmilk Snow Brand Ebina Plant

(3) FY2016 JICA Training Course on Planning of Agricultural Policy

This training course is aimed at formulating action plans that will contribute to the agricul-tural policies of the countries of the participants by having the participants deepen their knowl-edge that will be effective in improving the cur-rent agricultural policies and existing systems and promoting agricultural organizations in their countries by studying the various adminis-trative assistance and legal systems as well as the initiatives of agricultural cooperatives that support the development of agriculture in Japan and utilizing those ideas. This year, 17 govern-ment officials from countries in Asia, Africa, Central America, and Eastern Europe partici-pated in the training course to learn about such matters as the roles of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, the current Japanese agricultural policies, development of agricultural infrastructure, agricultural cooperatives, distribu-tion of agricultural product, rural finance, and the

sixth industrialization of agriculture, and partici-pated in workshops to learn PCM (project cycle management) techniques that will be useful in project planning and monitoring . In field study visits, the participants visited Akita Prefecture to learn about agriculture promotion plans at the pre-fectural level, and observed case examples of actu-al initiatives. In addition, the participants were also introduced to the agricultural development plan of Kawasaki City as a municipal-level initiative. With regard to the action plans that were drafted during the training course, progress reports have been sent by the participants indicating that further studies and improvements have been added to their plans after they returned to their home countries, and the plans are currently in the preparatory stage toward implementation.

At the direct sales shop of JA Ceresa Kawasaki

tion of farmers through observations of the Mie Prefectural Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, JA Igahokubu, the agricultural practice association “Agripia Iga,” women farmers, etc. In visits to nearby areas, the participants visited JA Shonan and JA Group Kanagawa Education Center, and

deepened their understanding of economic busi-ness activities as well as educational activities. In addition to its practical content, the training course served to greatly encourage the participants through the vigor and dynamism of rural women in Japan.

Visit to JA Akita Furusato Welfare Center

During the weekend, participants climbing Mt. Takao located near IDACA

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All tournament participants praising each other and posing for a commemorative photo session

Exchanges among participants, high school students, and JA National Education Center master course students

Eastern European Team African Team

On Thursday, October 20, we rented the gymna-sium of the JA National Education Center and held a futsal tournament between IDACA partici-pants and master course students. There were four teams participating in the tournament, including two teams consisting of master course students, a team consisting of IDACA training participants from Eastern Europe, and a team consisting of participants from Africa. The tournament turned out to be a fierce battle just like the World Cup tournament. Although the tournament resulted in a contest between Japanese teams – Master Course “A” Team and Master Course “B” Team – it was decided that the final match would be contested between a Master Course All-Star Team and an IDACA East European/African All-Star Team due to an offer from the master course students. The participants from Eastern Europe, who boasted that the level of soccer is higher in Europe, and the participants from Africa, who had superior physi-

cal ability, formed a single team and engaged in a contest with the Japanese team. The result was that the IDACA All-Star Team, which showed more determination, emerged victorious. After the game, the students and the participants all praised each other for the good fight, and the event ended with smiles and handshakes.

(2) Sports Event with JA National Education Center Master Course Students

(1) Exchange Meetings with High School StudentsOn Sunday, September 25, we held an exchange

meeting at IDACA garden between IDACA train-ing participants and high school students in Chiba Prefecture as well as master course students at the JA National Education Center. Following the pre-vious year, this turned out to be the second barbe-cue party exchange meeting, but we were blessed

with good weather again this year, and the partici-pants, high school students, and master course stu-dents all demonstrated their abilities to cook the cuisine of their home countries. Also, after every-one enjoyed the food and conversation, a karaoke contest started, and they all showed off their won-derful singing voices.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OF IDACA TRAINING COURSE PARTICIPANTS

While staying at IDACA, the daily life of the participants basically consists of starting with breakfast at 8:00 am, lectures from 9:30 am until 12 o’clock, followed by a lunch break and more lectures from 1:30 pm until 4 pm. After the lec-tures in the afternoon until dinner time at 6 pm, the participants freely spend their time such as by voluntarily holding group discussions, going out for walks or jogging, or engaging in sports.

In addition, we collaborate with the General Affairs Department and the Training Department of IDACA and plan various events that take advan-tage of the participants’ free time, so that they have the opportunity to come in contact with Japa-nese culture as well as to interact with Japanese people. This time, we will introduce some of those events.