Abstract
Establishment of rural resources management organizations with farmers' initiative is fundamental policy issue in order to properly conserve and manage rural resources in Japan. The Land Improvement District will be one of the most possible and appropriate organizations to become core of rural resources management organization. Rural resources in Japan are classified by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as: 1) farm land; 2) irrigation water; 3) environment; 4) organic resources; and 5) rural community. These resources have been managed by rural communities and farmers' organizations including Land Improvement Districts. However, situation in rural area in Japan has been very much changed since 1960s, such as decrease of farm land and farmers, increase of proportion of non-farmers, increase of elderly people and abandonment of farming activities. Other socio/economic/global factors surrounding rural area, such as combine of municipalities, international agricultural trade negotiation and/or climate change, have also affected and accelerated change of its circumstances. In order to establish appropriate rural resources management organization, it is useful to examine history and existing system in foreign countries. Consortia in Italy which has overall membership by whole rural people could be one of these examples which will be applied into Japan. Reorganization of Land Improvement District together with strengthened power, wider membership, enough budget and capable staff could be proposed to be the most suitable option to properly manage rural resources in Japan.
