The 3rd ICA-Japan Training Course on “Improving Capacity of Rural Women” was held in Thailand and Japan from 6th to 30th September 2016.  Eight women participants from eight countries, namely, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam attended the Training Course. The objective of the Course was to assist in capacity building of leaders of rural women for promotion of more organized business activities in South-East Asia and South Asia. Part-I of the program consisting of field study visits with a focus on observation of the activities of cooperatives/women groups and social institutions was held in Thailand from 6th to 13th September in collaboration with the Cooperative League of Thailand (CLT), a member organization of ICA.  Part-II of the program held at the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA) from 14th to 30th September included extensive classroom work and study visits to agricultural cooperatives in Mie Prefecture of Japan. 

Participants of the ICA-Japan Training course on Improving Capacity of Rural Women

Lecture-cum-practical field study visits assignments were combined to impart necessary knowledge to the participants on the working of women’s associations and the general activities of agricultural cooperatives in Japan. Some of the key subjects covered at IDACA were: (a) Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Japan; (b) Women’s Associations of Japanese Agricultural Cooperatives; (c) Rural Women’s Entrepreneurship (marketing and local agro-processing); (d) Women’s Participation in the Rural Development; (e) Finalization and Presentation of Action Plans; and (f) Reporting and Evaluation. Based on the experiences gained by the participants through class room lectures, field visits in Thailand and Japan (Mie Prefecture), the participants were able to prepare their Action Plans which they would be recommending to their respective organizations for implementation.  A course evaluation was conducted at the conclusion of the Training.  The participants felt that the training course was very relevant for women leaders of agricultural cooperatives in Asia and it should be continued.  The Training Course is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Government of Japan. A Certificate of Participation was awarded to each participant at the concluding session held at IDACA. Mr. Sethu Madhavan coordinated the program.