The Training course on "Strengthening Management and Development of Agricultural Cooperatives and Farmers’ Organizations in Asia and the Pacific-2021” was held online from February to March 2022. The course aims to foster leaders of farmers’ organizations including agricultural cooperatives, who are expected to play a central role in promoting the formation of agricultural cooperatives and the strengthening of organizational and business management, thus contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of agricultural products and income, leading to sustainable agricultural production.

Part 1 of the course was organised in collaboration with the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), India from 02 to 21 February. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP;  Mr. Ikko Watanabe, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in India; Mr. Hirofumi Kobayashi, Executive Director, IDACA; Dr. Umakant Dash, Director, IRMA; Prof. S.N. Biswas, Coordinator, IRMA; Prof. Hitesh Bhatt, former Director, IRMA; Prof. Sudhir Sinha, MDP Chair, IRMA; and Mr. A.K. Taneja, Project Coordinator, ICA-AP. 11 participants from Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Nepal and Vietnam attended the course and learned about the experience of agricultural & dairy cooperatives in India.

Part-II was organised in collaboration with the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA), Japan and  inaugurated by Mr. Kobayashi on 01 March.  The participants attended technical sessions to learn about the experience of agricultural cooperatives in Japan.

The training concluded on 25 March and the closing ceremony was addressed by Mr. Miayazako Masahiro, Director of Bilateral Affairs Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Govt. of Japan; Mr. Toshiyuki Shinada, Deputy Director and Officer-in-charge, ICA-MAFF (Japan); and Mr. Iyer. Mr. Kobayashi shared a video message. Mr. Wangchuk Wangchuk, participant from Bhutan, presented the vote of thanks and all participants received their e-certificates of participation.

Based on the learnings and knowledge gained from the training course, the participants have finalised their action plans to be implemented by them with the help of their respective organizations in due course.