The ICA and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of the Government of Japan, Tokyo signed an agreement for the implementation of the “Capacity Building Project for Farmers’ Organizations to Support the Development of Food Value Chain in Asia and Africa in FY-2020” for the period from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021, which comprises the four programmes as follows: 

1. Programme-1: Training Course on Strengthening Management and Development of Agricultural Cooperatives and Farmers’ Organizations in Asia and Africa.
2. Programme-2: Training Course on Empowering of Rural Women for Improvement of their Leadership and Business and Management.
3. Programme-3: Training Course on Strengthening of Marketing through Improvement of Quality of Farm Produce and Expansion of Marketing Channels.
4. Programme-4: Follow-up Guidance and Survey of Ex-participants.

Given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing restrictions on travel, the three training programmes are to be held online. The second training course on” Empowering of Rural Women for Improvement of their Leadership and Business and Management” will begin in December 2020.