Jubilant participants at the conclusion of the training.

The training course on ‘Fostering Leaders for Management and Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia-2018’ was organized by ICA-AP, in Thailand and Japan from February 5 to March 16, 2019. The objectives of the training course were to assist fostering of agricultural cooperatives, including farmers’ organizations, for boosting agricultural production and increasing farmers’ income through the development of agriculture. The training program was implemented by ICA-AP with the collaboration of Co-operative League of Thailand (CLT)/Cooperative Promotion Department (CPD), and the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA), Tokyo. The Training Course was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of the Government of Japan.

The training course was formally inaugurated by Mr. Poramate Intarachumnum, Chairman, CLT, at the training centre of the CLT in Bangkok, on February 6, in the presence of Mr. Nao Muramatsu, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Thailand; Mr. Phanuwat Na Nakampon, Executive Advisor, CPD; Mr. Konno Masahiro, Executive Director, IDACA; Mr. Vichit Nualchuen, Executive Director, CLT; and Mr. A.K. Taneja of ICA-AP. There were nine participants from seven countries – Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The training in Thailand was conducted at the Training Centre of CLT in Bangkok and field study visits were arranged by CPD in the Phitsanulok province of Thailand. After completing the CLT/CPD Module in Thailand, the participants moved to IDACA on February 25, 2019. They remained in Japan till March 16.

At the concluding session at IDACA on March 15, Mr. Kyohei Sugaya, official in-charge of this training course, International Affairs Department, MAFF; Mr. Y. Kobayashi, International Affairs Department, JA-Zenchu; Mr. Konno Masahiro, Executive Director, IDACA; and Mr. A.K. Taneja, Project Coordinator, ICA-AP, addressed the participants. Mr. Taneja presented a brief report of the entire training course at the concluding session and Ms. Cholpon Kokumova, the participant from Kyrgyzstan, presented a vote of thanks on behalf of all the participants. The Certificates of Participation from the ICA as well as from the IDACA were awarded to the participants at the end of the concluding session.