Bangkok, Thailand: A comprehensive training program on promoting sustainable agriculture took place from August 1-13, 2024, in Thailand. Representatives from seven countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand—participated in the program. The diverse backgrounds of the participants enriched the training experience.
Over the course of the training, participants engaged in both online and offline sessions led by esteemed experts, including Dr. Preecha Sitdhikornkrai and Prof. Hitesh Bhatt. Dr. Sitdhikornkrai's sessions focused on the governance and management of agricultural cooperatives, as well as business development planning. He employed a compelling analogy, comparing farmers to "small fish" and highlighting the crucial role of cooperatives in organizing farmers into "big fish" with greater bargaining power. Dr. Sitdhikornkrai also shared insights on the New Theory on Agriculture, introduced by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. This theory emphasizes land and water management through a 30:30:30:10 formula, aiming to balance irrigation, rice cultivation, other crop production, and residential use.
Prof. Bhatt's sessions emphasized the importance of creating a SMART action plan. He shared that 32% of projects succeed because they meet the community's needs, stay within budget, and are completed on time. He stressed the need for thorough information gathering to address the root causes of problems. Prof. Bhatt also introduced the AON Network, a tool designed to streamline project planning by illustrating the dependencies and timelines of activities.
Field visits to various cooperatives and government agencies formed a significant part of the training. The first visit took participants to Batik Home on Koh Kret, where they observed the batik-making activities of a Muslim group founded by Khun Ladda Wanyalay in 2004. The cooperative's efforts to produce and market batik products have helped improve the welfare of the local community.
Another visit was to the Cooperative Auditing Department (CAD), a government agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Thailand. CAD's offices are spread across Thailand and offer various applications to assist cooperatives, such as Smart Manage, Smart Monitor, Smart Member, and Smart Me. These tools are available for free to cooperatives in Thailand, although customization options are also available.
Participants also visited the Agricultural Cooperative Federation of Thailand (ACFT), which operates at multiple levels from local farmers to national federations. The ACFT supports its members through direct and online sales of products, including a wide variety of rice, and collaborates with private companies for delivery services.
Subsequent visits focused on primary cooperatives, including Dontoom Agricultural Cooperative, Lam Luk Ka Agricultural Cooperative, KU Beef Cooperative, Bangkhontee Agricultural Cooperative, and Banlard Agricultural Cooperative. Each of these cooperatives showcased unique business models and contributions to their members' welfare, ranging from organic banana production to international beef exports.
A notable visit was to Nongkhanang Credit Union Cooperative, which supports its members through various innovative projects such as vegetable and fruit cultivation, tourism management, and energy-saving initiatives.
The training concluded with positive feedback from participants, including Pema Wangchuk from Bhutan, who remarked, “The training program was well coordinated, organized, and systematic. The diversified learning platforms, including the training materials, study visits, and lectures, are easily understandable. We gained a lot of valuable ideas, insightful knowledge, experiences, and exploration from this program on the cooperative movement in Thailand towards successful and sustainable business ventures.”
Following the training in Thailand, participants continued their journey to Japan for further studies.
Machida, Japan - A flight of approximately six hours started the participants' journey to learn about agriculture in Japan from August 15-27, 2024. Upon arrival in Japan, the participants met with Mr. Hirofumi Kobayashi, Executive Director, IDACA. He explained the history of IDACA which was founded in July 1963 by Mr. Yasushi Hasumi (President of JA Zenchu). IDACA aims to contribute to improving the income of farmers and the development of agriculture and rural societies in Asia and other regions. Their activities include training for cooperative leaders and research on agriculture in Asia and Africa. Participants were also provided with an orientation program to briefly get to know Japanese culture and the location where they stayed. On the second day, participants presented the draft action plan to get feedback from IDACA and ICA. This activity was carried out online because the typhoon hit several cities in Japan.
To observe agricultural practices in Japan, participants travelled to Yamanashi Prefecture for four days. Participants had the opportunity to visit Katsunuma Herb Garden to see various plants and flowers with interesting aromas. The Herb Garden has a shop and café that sells cosmetics and herbal products from its garden. There was also a visit to the Grapes Packing center which provided an experience of enjoying Japan's best grapes. According to 2020 data, Yamanashi prefecture accounts for 21% of Japan's grapes at 163,400 tons. There are more than 60 types of grapes in Japan and participants tried Kyoho (King of Japanese Grapes) and Shine Muscat (The Master Piece).
On the fifth day, participants visited the JA Fuefuki Grading Center to see the grading process of peaches. According to the information provided, the peach harvest period starts from mid-June to early September. About 500 farmers bring their harvest to this grading center and production can reach 10,000 peaches per day or 3-4 tons in peak seasons. The grading process is done manually and by machine to determine the color, sugar content, and size of the peach. On the same day, participants met the team from JA Rihoku and visited Hosaka Producer's Group and Okada Grape Farm. JA Rihoku Hosaka Producer's Group members practice sustainable agriculture and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by 50%.
The next day, participants saw the business run by the Agricultural Cooperative Corporation, Mukawa Farm. This cooperative provides all facilities for rice farmers, such as a Nursery House, Drying and Adjustment Facility, Transplanting Machine, Combine, Tractor, Mini, and Regular Size Truck. Farmers can buy 30-day-old seedlings from them, rent the necessary machinery, and process the rice into 30-kilogram packaged rice. The presence of Mukawa Farm is a solution for farmers who are elderly, where they get convenience with the services offered. Participants also had the opportunity to discuss with Mr. Ikuya Adachi, Senior Executive Director of Yamanashi Prefecture Union, Mr. Akihiko Komiyama, and Mr. Koki Mitsumori from JA Zen-noh Yamanashi. 8 JAs are focusing on several businesses namely Farm Guidance, Marketing, Purchase, Credit, Mutual Insurance, Welfare, and others. JA Zen-noh Yamanashi introduced a peach processing product called “No Mo Mon”. The raw material of peach comes from Yamanashi Prefecture. In addition to the attractive packaging design, this juice is also very delicious.
Another visit included the JA Minami Alpes Shi - Direct Sales Shop. Participants saw an agricultural shop that provides all the needs of farmers and a supermarket that offers a place for farmers to sell their products. According to the information obtained, the farmers do their packing and determine their prices according to the information provided by JA for comparison.
In addition to JA, participants also saw the Yamanashi local government's support for agriculture through the Yamanashi Fruit Tree Experiment Station, which focuses on grapes, peaches, plums, and cherries. Every three years, they develop new varieties of these fruits. It is said that each prefecture has its experiment station. All information from research is conveyed to farmers through JA and Government Farming Staff.
The Yamanashi field trip concluded with a look at the implementation of 6th industrialization at Nakamichi Agricultural Products Processing and Direct Sales Cooperative. The origin of the cooperative dates back to 2000 when some women opened a morning market using the back of a light truck to sell their agricultural products. Seven years later, the cooperative was formed with 87 members and grew to more than 165 members. The 6th industrialization is done by the farmers' wives through their restaurant business. All the raw materials that are processed come from the members' agricultural products. So, the production, processing, and sales processes are all done by the farmers.
On the eighth day, participants moved to Hadano, Kanagawa Prefecture to see the business run by JA Hadano. The communication that JA Hadano applies to its members is very interesting to learn. Every month on the 26th-27th, all staff except those in the banking business visit farming families to listen to farmers' opinions, deliver orders from farmers, and bring newsletters to update farmers. This activity builds a good relationship between JA Hadano and its members.
The final lesson for the participants came from Yoshihiko Iino, who served as the Former President of JA Youth (National Council of Youth Associations of Agricultural Cooperatives) in 2017. Mr. Iino explained about the bottom-up approach they use to listen to the problems and challenges faced by farmers. They form small groups of 8-10 people and choose their group leaders. The stages of problem solving started from self-help, mutual help to public help.
Before the program ended, the participants had the valuable opportunity of an hour-long meeting with Mr. Toru Yamano, President of IDACA and President of JA Zenchu. He emphasized that protecting and promoting agriculture is a fundamental part of a country's culture. During the Q&A, a participant asked about the strategies that JA Zenchu is undertaking to address ageing in agriculture in Japan. Mr. Yamano revealed their efforts to collect voices in the community and include them in the action plan.
The lessons learned in Japan left a deep impression on the participants for the implementation of action plans and agricultural development in their respective countries. Napaphat Jaroenchotworakun, a representative from Thailand, said that the experience in Japan opened his mind. “The opportunity to learn about various agricultural practices and techniques provided a wealth of knowledge that I can apply directly to our cooperative. I appreciated the hands-on approach and the opportunity to see successful farming models. The training not only broadened my understanding but also inspired new ideas that I want to implement. The training has equipped me with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovation and success in our cooperative. I am very grateful for the hospitality and support provided by IDACA staff in Japan, which made this learning journey smooth and memorable.”
*Reported by Ms. Angela Januarti, a participant from InKUR Federation in Indonesia
