農業女子プロジェクトに関する実態と評価

抄録

In this paper, the author reviewed the “Nougyou-Joshi Project.” The Nougyou-Joshi Project has been launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2013. “Nougyou-Joshi” here refers to women farmers of the new generation; mostly, they are in their 30s and 40s. The objective of the project is to deliver the situation of agriculture and women farmers’ activities to society by cooperative activities between private companies and women farmers. It also aims to increase people who are engaged in agriculture in the future.

The analysis is performed using materials disclosed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and those available on the website of Nougyou-Joshi Project. In addition, interviews with officials in charge in the ministry are also used.

The paper clarified the following. Based on the former measures for supporting women farmers, Nougyou-Joshi Project is carried out in a different way from the cooperative extension services. The younger generation prefers to participate in Nougyou-Joshi Project rather than in traditional local women’s groups, and that is why the number of Nougyou-Joshi members has steadily increased up to 780. Although its activities are developed in various fields, Nougyo-Joshi Project is not generally acknowledged and the regular participants are quite limited.