This analysis focuses on trainingsuccessors at agricultural production corporations, and particularly on their current working status. Based on our analysis we summarize the challenges that these successors face with regard to acquiring the abilities and skills needed to effectively manage the agricultural production and business aspects of such corporations. We review the various issues that arise in the course of training these individuals as successors at agricultural production corporations and the methods used to resolve these issues. Differences exist between the work environment provided by agricultural production corporations and the working conditions sought by their successors. Corporations tend to prioritize facility improvement and so on, whereas successors tend to seek better systems conditions regarding their salary and insurance benefits. Better conditions for attracting workers, including the corporation’s work environment and support for developing the successor’s abilities, ultimately lead to improved successor training. Consolidated approaches are needed in order to move forward through collaboration between the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives, prefectural governments, and individual corporations.

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This paper analyzes the conservation movement for horse chestnut using two main concepts of “network members” and “self-organization” as in the definition of governance by Rhodes for the purpose of examining the practical applicability of the concept of governance. In this research, problem solutions and politics came together at critical times to provide impetus for network members to address the conservation movement. There are financial providers among the network members who move the governance to the next step effectively. Strong leadership is needed for the trial to succeed and all members collaborate in major victories in the trial for continuous activities by members of governance. The existence of network members minimizes the pressure of centralization so as not to ruin subjectivity of the core group is a definite factor that governance has to be maintained in order for effective activity to be achieved.

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Recently, uncertainty about the future has been increasing for those involved in the agricultural ­business in Japan. In such a situation, we monitor the movements of agricultural enterprises.
We selected the agricultural enterprises engaged in the industrialization of the Senary sector as the subjects for our case study. The study aims to (1) clarify how agricultural networks can form among management entities, and (2) discuss characteristics of agricultural networks and options for handling ­issues that may arise in the future. In this study, by focusing on the effects and uses of various resources, we investigate the character of agricultural networks.
The survey indicates three particularly important considerations regarding the establishment of agricultural networks: producers’ networks are based on their philosophy and principles, people network by implementing the development of human resources for agricultural purposes, and communities create networks for the conservation and utilization of ­regional resources.

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In conducting this research, we identified factors disrupting ICT-literacy building in rural areas. We examined the ICT training sessions that addressed Facebook use, carried out by Kyoto University in three regions located in the northern part of Kyoto prefecture, as study cases. In particular, we focused on support activity between the university’s lecturer and student residents in those regions and compared them to a preferred relationship model. As a result, we were able to classify students into four categories. Furthermore, through analysis of the factors accounting for these differences, we found that Facebook use is disrupted without the following two things: (1) career support, such as networking, and (2) social and psychological support.

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With municipalities merging, the Internet has been increasing in importance because citizens, especially those in rural areas, use it to acquire information from municipalities and participate in policy-making. As a result, many municipalities have adopted the Internet, especially social media that enables interactive communication with outside agencies and citizens. However, social media use by municipalities is still in its early stages, and it is not clear how it should be managed and what the scope of its effect will be. We chose Takeo City as our study area and clarified how they manage Facebook and the effects of the information transmission it engenders. As a result, we discovered the following: (1) a few officers take actual roles managing Facebook, and problems could arise without them, (2) Facebook increases the ability to disseminate real-time and urgent information, and (3) communication with outside agencies and citizens is vitalized while communication inside is still in progress.

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The aim of this paper is to clarify the determinants of attitudes regarding the control of non-native species and the conservation of native species based on the results of questionnaire surveys administered to the members of a nonprofit organization in Shiga, Japan. This paper indicates that the respondent’s perceived numbers of non-native and native species that need to be controlled or conserved, respectively, increase with their advancing age. Additionally, the number of non-native species perceived as needing to be controlled is influenced by beliefs in attainability—whether efforts will be rewarded with the extermination of non-native species—and knowledge of biodiversity. In each taxonomic analysis, positive attitudes regarding the control of non-native species prevail among those who are fluent in biodiversity. Furthermore, attitudes toward the control of non-native fish or waterweed are positively influenced by early experiences with fishing or shellfish gathering.

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This study aims to determine trends in private organizations and research institutes engaging in the management of indigenous varieties of crops and vegetables. By analyzing the results of a questionnaire sent to the members of the Korean Association of Local Varieties and by interviewing the four organizations associated with it, the current condition of conservation activities and the consciousness of stakeholders were examined. The results implied that (1) conservation activities in Korea were heavily dependent on the public sector, (2) some private organizations were continuously engaging in these activities by building a commercial business, and (3) some organizations try to promote varieties from foreign countries.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the future prospects for use of biomass boilers in horticulture management. As a result, three important considerations were identified. First, weigh the success of a brand as just one sphere of regional construction. Second, create a social context and story that will add extra value involved in biomass agriculture. Third, allow a brand to take root in the local area, and then extend to the surrounding areas.

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[in Japanese]

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The purpose of this paper is to discuss the possible application of the agri-business model to farm management. A business model is defined as “the structure adjusted in order to yield profits while bringing the customer satisfaction.” Therefore, the agri-business model must be designed to create new agricultural business. To achieve this, it is necessary that the ideal of valued customers, the structure of the business, and the fountainhead of profits are maintained. Compared to general companies, agriculture has the following constraints: the scale or funding ability is small, cultivation has seasonality, and the quality and quantity of products are subject to the influence of the weather or disease/insect damage. Even if management’s resources are not rich, it is the true purpose of a business model to gain profits, and it is not impossible to change restrictions into opportunities, as well.

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Over the past few years, some large-scale paddy-field farms have been showing a trend of increased vegetable production. Previous research has suggested that the main purpose of this rise in production is increased income, but that the increment will not always be comfortable. The purpose of this study is to examine the motivations for such developments by simulating the farm-management model using a mixed-integer programming model. The case farm produces rice, wheat, barley, maize, carrots, and potatoes on the 40 ha paddy-field. The result has been determined to account for two main causes. One is labor management meant to accomplish whole-year employment, and the other is the improvement of financial stability by increased production of crops with lower subsidy levels in preparation for government reduction.

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The factors involved in the success of S. Orchard are having pursued differentiation of processed products using high sugar-content materials, such as fruits, and having created the high-class processed-goods market of the Satsuma mandarin through exploitation of new demand. Moreover, the following points were identified based on business analysis of S. Orchard: a good profit ratio is attained by offering new value and paying the required cost, steady capital investment is performed by planning substantial equity through capital increases, and although labor share is high, personnel expenses are outlaid to balance business profits.

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This paper examines the current state of agricultural education in the Netherlands and support for greenhouse horticultural practitioners. The results are as follows: (1) there is practical education and vocational skill training before graduation, (2) growers participate in study groups, visit each other’s greenhouses regularly, discuss skills and costs, and develop skills through friendly competition, and (3) they also acquire knowledge from their advisors and research institutes. Such continuous learning opportunities have played an important role in the lives of growers in the Netherlands.

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This paper examines the information structures regarding land owners of property in mountainous regions. For decades, these areas have been rapidly depopulated by massive migration to urban areas. Recently, the inhabitants have been passing away as they age. Therefore, the land ceases being used and it becomes increasingly difficult each year to find land owners living in urban areas. We investigated the situation in a community within Ohtoyo-cho, Kochi prefecture, through three land owners’ information sources: the land register, the tax cadastre, and the network of regional inhabitants. The information based on the network of regional inhabitants is available in even marginal communities. Maintaining the network is an urgent task. The land registration system has failed to meet the needs of the current situation and should be revised to avoid wasteful land use in the future.

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This study discusses the roles of perennial crops in uplands where depletive agriculture is occurring, and analyzes desirable policies for developing sustainable agroforestry.
Economic analysis indicates that a lower discount rate provides economic incentives with small-scale farmers in uplands to reduce food crops and increase perennial crops for cash income. Although the results of the household survey show that the profitability of clove production is much higher than that of food crops such as maize and cassava, upland farmers remain reluctant to invest in clove production and tend to keep food crop production.
The count data regression analysis indicates that the number of clove trees is positively related to land area, land tenancy, education level, food availability, and total number of cattle. Therefore, small land size, food insecurity, lacks of education and financial assets are key constraints of a clove-based agroforestry system.

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