Examination of the Coping Methods and Various Training Issues for Agricultural Production Corporations’ Successors

Abstract

This analysis focuses on representatives and successors of agricultural production corporations, and particularly on their current working status, based on which we summarize the challenges that successors face with regard to acquiring abilities and skills relating to agricultural production and business aspects of the corporation at “junbiki,” “ukeireki” and “ikuseiki”.

A difference exists between the work environment provided by agricultural production corporations and the working conditions sought by successors in that the corporations tend to prioritize facility improvements, whereas successors tend to seek better salary and insurance benefits. Therefore, the latter will need to be improved in order to secure and train successors. Additionally, one of the challenges that agricultural production corporations face with regard to training successors is that the development of managerial capabilities―including human resource management, leadership, business management, and other capabilities that successor will need―is often deferred. Business management and sales abilities are difficult to develop through on-the-job training within a corporation’s work environment, and will require training support from JA, prefectural governments, and individual corporations.

Conditions needed for successors to set up permanent residence in the community include housing, improved convenience, and employment for spouses. As such, approaches are needed that focus not only on the successor, but also on his or her family. Housing in particular is a crucial point with regard to attracting individuals residing outside of the community to work for these corporations.

Because better conditions for attracting workers, including a corporation’s work environment and support for developing the successor’s abilities, ultimately depend on successor training and constitute “factors for nurturing successors at agricultural production corporations,” consolidated approaches will continue to be necessary. These include collaborations between prefectural governments and individual corporations.