The number of households that borrow money from micro-finance institutions have been increasing. However, recent study finds that the average well-being of those households has declined due to loan default. To cope with such problems, setting up Savings-led microcredit association (SLMA) has been increasingly widespread intervention aimed at improving the above-mentioned situation. We examined the determinants of participation in SLMA and the impacts of it on household well-being in Cambodia, applying an endogenous treatment effect model for the data which we collected in rural Cambodia. We find evidence that the participation in SLMA has had a positive impact on household well-being such as education and health as well as household assets, and that time preferences has an effect on the decision of participation in SLMA.

This study elucidates how Organic Seed Alliance (OSA), a non-profit organization (NPO), manages and governs its activities to protect crop diversity in the United States. The results of interviews with OSA’s members were analyzed based on corporate governance theory. The conclusions result from two perspectives: management and governance. Regarding management, recruiting members who have different types of knowledge and experience levels, leads to formulating appropriate strategies and plans. The process of devolving decision-making authority to local branches enables collaboration with stakeholders for improved organizational performance. Regarding governance, the board of officers is the highest decision-making body and is responsible for guiding and securing the managers and staff throughout the organization. In addition, informal governance by stakeholders can drive the activities of OSA toward conservation of crop diversity.

This study focuses on the goals and characteristics of continuous community–university cooperation activities in the same rural area based on participant observation and interviews. In this study, we analyze the community-university cooperation activities (2012–2017) by the students at Shimane University and the local residents in the Mindani district, Yoshida-cho, Yunnan-shi, Shimane Prefecture. Our main results are as follows: (1) The characteristics of the teaching activities include providing continuous survey results feedback to the local residents and promoting communication among the students. (2) The characteristics of the local residents’ activities include holding various events and communicating with the students. (3) The characteristics of students’ activities include undertaking problem solving activities and providing peer support. (4) The goal of continuous community–university cooperation activities in the same rural area is to promote students’ subjective learning and reinforce local revitalization.

Because of its economic characteristics, the distri­bution of vegetables produced in plant factories has a high circulation rate outside the market. This study clarifies the role the wholesale market plays in marketing the vegetables produced in plant factories.

This study analyzed the fluctuation in the quantity and price of the vegetables produced in Plant Factory K in a central wholesale market in southern Kyushu. The results show that a wholesale market plays the role of securing demand for the vegetables produced in plant factories. In addition, wholesale markets help improve con­sumer evaluation of the vegetables produced in plant factories.

The nutrition status in early childhood affects child’s healthy development and acquisition of education and human capital, and health status and productivity in adulthood. The objective of this study is to explore the long-term impact of (childhood) nutrition status on the current BMI (Body Mass Index) and education of individuals, by focusing on rural Cambodia. From the estimation results of longitudinal data analysis, I found that the past nutrition status, measured by height for age and weight for age z-scores, is positively associated with the current nutrition status. In addition, children who have had better nutrition are more likely to have a higher number of years of schooling.

There are few studies that analyze agricultural working conditions for people with disabilities, to enable them to better adapt to and continue working in agriculture. This study examines three exemplary entities, with varying organizational forms, who employ individuals with disabilities for agricultural production. The analysis specifies conditions that have enabled their prolonged employment while securing financial success. Different patterns are evident in each of the three cases. The results illuminate, first, that appropriate segmentation of work processes, clear assignment of responsibilities, and universal designs are essential to secure profitability for the farming entity whose primary purpose is not to provide care. Second, the organizations that provide care should ensure sufficient care providers, and that diverse and appropriate tasks are assigned to their disabled employees based on their varying needs and conditions. The study concludes that the rapid aging in the population of disabled workers in agriculture, requires the provision of new and improved welfare services to include support in daily living.

In this study, we carried out a shortened version of “SIM MATSUE 2030” (SIM), which is a role-playing game used with students. We quantitatively analyzed the effect of human resource development for community regeneration and educational effect based on the responses to questionnaires and paper of the SIM administered to individuals participating in the game. Furthermore, we also consider about point of attention and improvements in order to improve these affects. The results indicate that SIM improves not only thinking power, understanding of others and initiative of the educational effects, but also improves a broader perspective, adjusting power, communication skills, and motivation of the effect of human resource development for community regeneration. Besides, it is important that participants get into character and give participants think of diverse people in society and enables smooth progress of SIM for the game so that a greater impact of the effects could be achieved.

This paper quantitatively investigates the efficiency of “Michino Eki,” a roadside station, and the factors influencing its efficiency. We focus on Gunma Prefecture in Japan, using DEA (data envelopment analysis) and multiple regression models for the analysis. The data were collected by conducting telephone surveys of all 31 Gunma Prefecture stations, with responses obtained from 13 stations. We also conducted interviews with the officials in charge of Michino Eki in the prefectural government and the municipality, as well as with the managers of Michino Eki. The purpose of these interviews was to verify the model estimation results. The results reveal that those stations that have facilities for a young generation were higher in efficiency than those that do not. Thus, introducing facilities such as baby care facilities, EV battery charging, and wi-fi capabilities, will be effective in improving the station’s efficiency.

This study analyzes whether agricultural subsidies benefit farmers. The capitalization of land rents payments, if any, is detrimental to cultivators who rent land from others. This study explores the impact of subsidies on land rents and structural change in Japanese agriculture based on a theoretical model of land rental markets. The empirical study uses the longitudinal data of the Census of Agriculture and Forestry. The estimation result of the land rent equation shows that payments are capitalized in land rents. However, the degree to which the incomes are transferred to landowners has recently become less significant. The results suggest that direct payments help facilitate land transfer from small- to large-scale farmers, which is conducive not only to social justice, but also to the enhancement of agricultural production.

In this research, we focus on the relationship between small-scale farmers in the senary sector and their stakeholders, especially farmers’ relationships with customers in tourism farming. Regarding the use of the support system: First, it is important for the small-scale farmer to accept prefectural support. Second, it is important for the person in charge of support work to continue to work and provide information to users. Regarding the relationship established with stakeholders, the following characteristics were clarified. First, small-scale farmers carried out marketing activities that were focused on regional prospects. Second, they took customer service to raise customer loyalty for new customers and good customers. Third, the good customers lived near the farm and showed that they have a relative and personal relationship with Company A.

This research is to measure the total factor productivity (TFP) of Japanese main vegetables and is to converge in each prefecture. The Malmquist index approach was applied for the calculation of TFP growth using one output (production) and four inputs (land, labor, capital, and other materials) for the period 1972–2007. The result of the Malmquist productivity index of vegetable decreased over this period by 2%, taking a value of 0.98. As technical efficiency was 1.00, and a technical change was 0.98, the factor that caused the decrease in productivity was technological change. The panel unit root test got a result to certainly converge in vegetables that was the highest in the productivity. Moreover, Growth of the productivity advance to the equivalence direction as a tendency, and the productivity of vegetables suggests that the same farm policy is effective.