The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of the Government of Japan has chosen the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) to implement an umbrella Project on “Capacity Building in Agricultural Sector in Asia and Africa (CB Project)” for three years starting from 2017.  Under this project, the 2nd Training Course on “Empowering Women in Business and Management of Agricultural Cooperatives” was held in Thailand and Japan from July 19 to August 11 2018.  Seven women participants from seven countries, namely, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam attended the Training Course. The objective of the training course was to assist capacity building of leaders of rural women for promotion of more participation in organizational management and organized business activities. 

Part-I of the program included field study visits with a focus on observation of the activities of cooperatives/women groups and social institutions, and was held in Thailand from July 19-28 in collaboration with the Cooperative League of Thailand (CLT), a member organization of ICA. 

Part-II of the program held at the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA) from July 29 to August 11 included extensive classroom work and study visits to agricultural cooperatives in Yamanashi, Kanagawa and Nagano Prefectures of Japan.  Lecture-cum-practical field study visits assignments were combined to impart necessary knowledge to the participants on the working of women’s associations and the general activities of agricultural cooperatives in Japan. Some of the key subjects covered at IDACA were: (a) Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Japan; (b) Women’s Associations of Japanese Agricultural Cooperatives; (c) Rural Women’s Entrepreneurship (marketing and local agro-processing); (d) Women’s Participation in the Rural Development; (e) Finalization and Presentation of Action Plans; and (f) Reporting and Evaluation.

Based on the experiences gained by the participants through class room lectures, field visits in Thailand and Japan, the participants were able to prepare their Action Plans which they would be recommending to their respective organizations for implementation. 

A course evaluation was conducted at the end of the Training on August 10.  The participants felt that the training course was very relevant for women leaders of agricultural cooperatives in Asia and it should be continued.  The Training Course is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Government of Japan.

At the conclusion of the training course

Mr. Takayoshi Kondo, Deputy Director, Overseas Investment and Cooperation Division, International Affairs Department, MAFF; Mr. Masahiro Konno, Executive Director of IDACA; Mr. Gaku Izawa from International Relations Department of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-ZENCHU); Mr. K. Sethu Madhavan, Advisor-Planning & Membership, ICA-Asia and Pacific; and Ms. Hira Bisht, Manager of KRIBHCO (on behalf of participants) addressed the closing session.  Mr. Kyohei Sugaya, Officer in charge of ICA-Japan Project at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAFF) also attended the closing ceremony, in addition to IDACA officers.

A Certificate of Participation was awarded to each participant at the concluding session held at IDACA on 10th August.