JAPAN 1. Research organisations 1. Research institutes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) are mainly placed under the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council (AFFRC). AFFRC is an agency which plays an essential role in the areas of: formulating the basic objectives and other fundamental matters for agricultural, forestry and fishery research activities, liaison and co-ordination between the experimental and research institutions and administrative sections, evaluating the achievements of research and development activities, liaising with incorporated administrative agencies, such as National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, subsidizing research and development activities conducted by the prefectural governments and private sector, and improving the quality of researchers. 2. As shown in Table 1, incorporated administrative agencies engaging in research and development comprise a total of six corporations: four agricultural corporations, one forestry corporation, and one fishery corporation. Concerning national research institutions, there is one institution, the Policy Research Institute, administrated directly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which is policy oriented. 3. The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) is the largest research organisation addressing agriculture, food, and rural communities in Japan. It is engaged in a wide-range of research and innovation activities, which cover the whole processes from agricultural infrastructure to the production of agricultural crops, to processing, crop distribution, food-making, and finally to consumption by consumers. Technological developments contributing to the promotion of rural villages or food industries are also goals of this Organization. 4. The number of personnel working for the institutes involved in research and development on agriculture, forestry and fisheries is shown in Table 2. There were 3 167 researchers working for national research institutions under MAFF in FY 2010. 1
Table 1. Research institutions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Table 2. Number of personnel working for research institutes under the MAFF FY Research Technician Administrator Others Total 2009 3147 667 1901 159 5874 2010 3167 646 1832 162 5807 2
2. Research Strategy and Objectives 5. In March 2010, the AFFRC set up the Basic Plan for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries research for the next ten years. The current priority research areas are as follows: 1. stabilizing food supply; 2. addressing global issues; 3. creating new demands; 4. utilization of local resources; and 5. creating the seeds of innovation 6. The Plan indicates the prioritized goals for each research area to be achieved in ten years, as well as the major performance targets to be achieved in a five-year time span. 3. Co-operation 7. In principle, the National Government and so-called incorporated administrative agencies, which are legally independent entities and play a public role as specified by laws, complementing government policies, are key drivers in promoting basic and leading research in this area. Local governments focus their attention more on the practical application and development of field-oriented technologies. Universities are in charge of education and capacity building for young researchers and undertake the academic and advanced research. Many private sector companies also invest in research with the aim of developing commercialized products which meet consumer needs, using and applying the result of basic researches. 4. Extension 8. The fundamental structure and main objectives of the extension service have changed little over the last ten years. However, issues to be addressed by the extension service, such as the promotion of an environmentally sound agriculture, have changed. Agricultural issues are re-assessed approximately every five years. 9. The actual extension work is outlined below. Co-operative Agricultural Extension Service Objectives 10. The objectives for agricultural extension work in Japan are defined by Article 1 of the Agricultural Improvement Promotion Act, enacted in 1948. The objectives are as follows: The objectives of the Law Act are to promote agricultural research, experimentation, and extension works so that farmers can obtain, extend, and exchange beneficial and practical knowledge on agricultural management and rural life. In order to realise these results, the following goals should be pursued: the development of efficient agricultural methods in harmony with the environment; the encouragement of efficient and stable management of agriculture; and the promotion of agriculture that suits the characteristics of the regions, thereby improving rural life. 3
Position on Agricultural Policies 11. Extension work has been implemented since 1948 as one of the most basic promotional methods of agricultural policy, ranking with research and general administration. It has played an important role in increasing farm production, improving productivity, farm management and rural life,as well as fostering agricultural youth. In recent years, it is also expected to promote farmer s initiatives to expand their businesses into food manufacturing and retailing sectors making use of their products. Basic System Work is performed in accordance with the guidelines that are agreed upon by the national and prefectural governments. Extension offices are established and qualified staffs (extension advisors) are placed in each prefecture. As part of extension work, young people are trained and educated in farmer academies to become farm operators. The national government grants a co-operative agricultural extension service grants to defray the basic costs of extension work (salaries of staffing advisors and overheads; costs to operate local extension offices and farmers' academies). Operation The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries establishes operating guideline for basic extension work after hearing the opinions of prefectural governments. (Guideline is revised approximately every five years.) Taking specific regional farming conditions into consideration, each prefectural government establishes its implementing policy based on operating guideline. In such instances, a preliminary discussion with the Minister of MAFF is required. Extension offices are established as the operating entities of the extension service. The regional extension offices establish and implement extension and instruction programs based on the implementing policy. Organisation 12. The prefectural governments establish extension offices. Extension advisors educate farmers on farming methods and farm management, and study operative methods, as conduct research on their specific areas of expertise. The prefectural governments also establish farmers' academies for training and educating future farm operators. 13. There were two types of extension staff up until fiscal year 2004: subject-matter specialists and extension workers. After fiscal year 2004, the Service allocated extension advisors, who conduct both investigative research and extension activities, so that they can disseminate advanced and diverse technologies and knowledge which respond to policy issues, directly to farmers more appropriately (Table 3). 4
Table 3. Number of regional extension offices, extension officers, and prefectural farmers' academies Fiscal year 1999 2009 Regional extension offices 508 373 Extension advisors - 7 341 Extension workers 9 832 - Subject matter specialists 645 - Prefectural farmers academies 41 41 Numbers are for the 1988 and 1998 fiscal years. Extension Work 14. Extension work is defined in the operating guidelines established by the national government and is re-evaluated approximately every five years. Currently, the main issues are as follows: Support of production such as strategic crops to improve the food self-sufficiency ratio. Support of efforts to expand farm businesses into food manufacturing and retailing sectors. Fostering agricultural management by various types of motivated farmers Support of efforts to improve food safety. Support of efforts toward sustainable agricultural production which is harmonious with environment. Support of efforts to revitalize rural communities. 15. In addition to addressing these basic issues, the national government has subsidized Extension Knowledge System in order to collect, processes and release information about the extension services for extension advisors via computer networks. Prefectural governments also have Extension Local Networks and the networks connect extension offices with farmers on-line, to offer agricultural information quickly and to promote information exchange among farmers. Co-operating with research and experiment institutes as well as educational organisations Research and Experiment Institutes 16. Based on the needs of the farmers and local communities, extension advisers, in their specialised fields, request that the government institutes develop technology. Basic technology development requests are made to national research and experiment institutes; practical, applicable technology development requests are made to prefectural institutes. The extension advisers, taking regional conditions into consideration, extend the new technology that has been developed at such institutes, to farmers through lectures and demonstrations for site adaptability. Educational Organisations 17. The extension service trains and educates future farmers, who are able to acquire knowledge of farm operation and management, as well as of advanced technology. In addition, with the co-operation of agricultural high schools, the extension service gives agricultural high school students practical training at prefectural farmers' academies. 5
Agricultural Co-operatives 18. Agricultural co-operatives are in charge of general farm management advice, as well as marketing. To promote the sharing of work between co-operatives and the extension service, the extension organisations support the improvement of farm management advisors' skills. Skilled advisors are necessary for the co-operatives' farm management advice organisations to systematise their structures. Financial Measures 19. The financial support measures by the national government are as follows. Grant 20. The national government provides grant to the co-operative extension service for the staffing of extension advisors and operation of the extension offices and prefectural farmers' academies. The grant helps defray the basic expenses necessary to flexibly operate extension work. In addition, prefectural governments budget for the most part of the expenses of the co-operative extension service. In 2007, a tax base of about JPY 3 trillion was transferred from the state to the regions. In association with the process, JPY 17 billion of the grant was reduced. Subsidies 21. The national government provides subsidies to prefectures for dealing with priority issues on agricultural policies and the enforcement of measures deemed necessary by the guidance of the national government. Table 4 shows the changes in budgets related to the co-operative agricultural extension service. Table 4. Evolution of sources of funding for the co-operative agricultural extension service JPY million Fiscal year 1995 2000 2005 2009 Grant 31 589 28 946 21 812 3 597 Subsidy 5 316 8 229 2 109 2 248 For academies 1 475 1 958 452 375 6