The Training course on “Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture and Improvement of Farmer’s Income through Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in FY-2023.” was organised by ICA-AP, in Thailand and Japan between 01 March and 29 March 2024. The objective of the training course was to review and study the roles of farmers’ organisations and find their new roles to meet “sustainable agriculture.”  The training program was implemented by the ICA-AP with the collaboration of the Co-operative League of Thailand (CLT), and the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA), Tokyo (Japan).  It was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of the Government of Japan. 

Part I of the course was inaugurated by Mr. Poramate Intarachumnum, Chairman of CLT at their training centre in Bangkok on 2 March. He was joined by Ms. Oranuch Kanpai, Dy. Executive Director of CLT and other staff members of CLT, Mr. Hirofumi KOBAYASHI, Executive Director, IDACA, Mr A.K. Taneja, Project Coordinator of ICA-AP, in welcoming all the participants. There were 07 participants from 06 countries – Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.  The classroom sessions covered topics like the Historical Development of Thai Cooperatives, Governance and Management of Agricultural Cooperatives as Business Organizations (GMAC), Business Development, Developing Action Plans and Transforming Action Plans to Projects, and Planning, Scheduling, Executing, and Monitoring Projects (PSEMP), among others. The field visits to various agricultural and credit cooperatives further enriched participants with practical insights.

Part II was hosted by IDACA in Tokyo. Participants learned about the Organization and Business of Agricultural Cooperatives in Japan (JAs), case studies on JA’s marketing and business strategies, organic agriculture, innovative concepts like 6th Industrialization, educational and public relation activities of JA, etc. Given the experience gained by the participants through classroom lectures, field study visits in Thailand and Japan, interaction among themselves and based upon their work environment, the participants developed their Action Plans and presented them on the final day of the training course.

The Closing Ceremony was organized on 28 March at IDACA. It was attended by Ms. Sato and Ms. Azumi, Officer in charge of the ICA-JAPAN Project, MAFF; Mr. Kobayashi; and Mr. Baba Toshihiko, Sr. Executive Director of JA-Zenchu. Mr. Daisuke Asano, Counsellor of the Emerging Region Division, Export and International Affairs Bureau, MAFF, sent a video message for the participants. Mr. A.K. Taneja, ICA-AP Course Coordinator presented a brief report of the training course. On behalf of the participants, Mr. Namagey Wangdi, from Bhutan presented a vote of thanks.