Women's empowerment in agriculture

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Management Improvement Bureau, Young Farmers and Women Division,
Women's Empowerment Office
December 2018
Proportion of women in the population mainly engaged in farming, forestry and fishery
○ Women account for about half of the population mainly engaged in farming and play important roles as workers in
farming, forestry and fishery.
○ Women in their 50s form the highest proportion, as core persons mainly engaged in farming.
○ The proportion of women aged 49 or younger to all newcomers in agriculture remain low at less than 10%.

Proportion of females in the working population

(Unit: thousand persons, %) Population mainly engaged in farming by age (2018)
1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 (Unit: thousand persons, %)
Population mainly engaged in farming 4,140 3,891 3,353 2,606 2,097 1,922 1,816 1,753 Population mainly engaged in farming 101 91 163 649 749 1,753
Number of females 2,372 2,171 1,788 1,300 1,009 900 849 808
Number of females 33 38 83 313 341 808
Proportion of women 57.3% 55.8% 53.3% 49.9% 48.1% 46.8% 46.8% 46.1%
Population mainly engaged in forestry 86 67 47 69 64 － － － Proportion of females 32.7% 41.8% 50.9% 48.2% 45.5% 46.1%
Number of females 14 12 7 9 8 － － －
Proportion of women 16.6% 17.9% 15.0% 13.2% 12.7% － － － Source: Survey on Movement of Agricultural Structure, MAFF
Note: Population mainly engaged in farming means members of households, which are engaged in own
1993 1998 2003 2008 2013 2018 farming, who exclusively engage in farming or spend more days on farming than other work.
Population mainly engaged in fishery 325 277 238 222 181 － － －
Number of females 57 46 39 34 24 － － －
Proportion of women 17.6% 16.8% 16.4% 15.4% 13.2% － － －
Source: Population mainly engaged in farming:
Census of Agriculture and Forestry and Survey on Movement of Agricultural Structure, MAFF
Population mainly engaged in forestry:
Population Census, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Number of core persons mainly engaged in farming (2030)
Population mainly engaged in fishery: Census of Fishery
(Unit: thousand persons, %)

Number of newcomers in agriculture by age (2016) 39 years 70

(Unit: thousand persons, %) or 40～49 50～59 60～69 years or Total
44 years or 65 years younger older
45～49 50～59 60～64 Total
younger or older
Core persons mainly engaged in farming 73 80 144 560 594 1,451
Number of newcomers in
19,020 3,040 7,800 13,450 16,850 60,150
agriculture Number of females 18 29 65 239 235 586
Number of females 5,060 960 2,340 3,340 3,490 15,190 Proportion of females 24.7% 36.0% 45.1% 42.7% 39.6% 40.4%
Source: Survey on Movement of Agricultural Structure, MAFF
Proportion of females 26.6% 31.6% 30.0% 24.8% 20.7% 25.3% Note: Core persons mainly engaged in farming are those who primarily engage in self-employed
farming (self-employed farmers).
Source: Survey on Newcomers in Agriculture, MAFF

１
 Relations between women’s participation in management and financial conditions

○ Women tend to participate in management policy decisions at management entities logging large sales in value or
diversifying operations.
○ The profitability tends to increase at management entities having female executives and managerial workers.

Analysis of financial conditions based on whether women Improvement of profitability generated by the involvement
participate in management policy decisions or not of women in agricultural business management
Number of farming households by value of farm product sales
100%
(1) Increase of ordinary profit (in the latest three years, by the proportion
44% 38% 34% 33% 32% 32% 35% of involvement of women in management)
75%
57%
Increase in the proportion
of women involved in
Increase of ordinary profit:
50%
management 139.2%
No change/decrease in the
66% 67% 68% 68%
proportion of women Increase of ordinary
62% 65% involved in management
25% 56% profit: 91.9%
43%
Difference of
0%
47.3 points
Less than 3 3-5 million 5-10 million 10-20 20-30 30-50 50-100 100 million
million yen yen yen million yen million yen million yen million yen yen or more
Number of farming households without women
(2) Increase of ordinary profit (in the latest three years, by whether women
having decision-making power
594,125 36,941 36,365 21,196 6,787 4,996 2,453 873
are involved in the management)
(Proportion) 57% 44% 38% 34% 33% 32% 32% 35%
Number of farming households with women having Women are business
446,926 46,742 58,265 42,072 14,087 10,788 5,328 1,647
decision-making power owners or executives or in Increase of ordinary profit: 126.6%
(Proportion) 43% 56% 62% 66% 67% 68% 68% 65% managerial positions
Total number of households 1,041,051 83,683 94,630 63,268 20,874 15,784 7,781 2,520
Increase of
Women are not involved
in management
ordinary
profit: 55.2%
Number of farming households engaged in businesses related to agricultural production (by business type)
100% Difference of 71.4 points
34% 35% 34% 30% (3) Increase of ordinary profit (in the latest three years, by categories of roles
38% 45%
75% of women)
50%
70% Marketing and sales Increase of ordinary profit: 254.2%
66% 62% 65% 66%
25% 55%
AFFrinnovation (e.g.,
0% processing, product Increase of ordinary profit: 232.7%
Allotment garden,
Processing of
farm for Export to foreign Direct sales to development)
agricultural
products
experiencing
Tourist farm Farm guest house
countries consumers Increase of
farming, etc. Women are not engaged ordinary profit: Difference of 177.5 points
Number of farming households without women having
7,350 1,145 2,023 547 106 101,318
in management 55.2%
decision-making power
Difference of 199.0 points
(Proportion) 34% 38% 35% 34% 30% 45%
Number of farming households with women having decision-
14,024 1,879 3,795 1,082 244 125,267
making power
(Proportion) 66% 62% 65% 66% 70% 55%
0 50 100 150 200 250
Total number of households 21,374 3,024 5,818 1,629 350 226,585
(Remarks) 1. Based on data from 2016 First Half Agricultural Business Outlook (September 2016), Japan Finance Corporation
Source: Prepared based on the number of commercial farm households (approximately 1.33 million households) as reported in the Census of Agriculture
and Forestry 2015 (Definitive) published by the Statistics Department, MAFF
2. The subjects of survey are organizations financed by the corporation’s Super L Fund or Agricultural Improvement Fund. ２
 Promotion of women's participation in agricultural management and entrepreneurship activities
○Women are involved in management policy decisions at 47% of commercial farm households. Certified female farmers
have kept increasing year after year and the certification clarifies women’s status in management.
○Launch of new businesses by women in rural areas, such as production of specialties based on local agricultural products
and processed products as well as sale at farmers markets, has effectively leveled off since 2007. While there are changes
in startup activities, such as an increase in online sales, in recent years, small management entities with annual sales of
less than 3 million yen roughly account for half of startups, making it important to promote efforts to sophisticate and
stabilize management.
Involvement in management policy decisions Number of new
Changes in entrepreneurship activites
businesses
(Unit: %) 12,000 Self-employed
個別経営 business Group business
ｸﾞﾙｰﾌﾟ経営
Category Breakdown
9,050 9,444 9,533 9,641 9,757 9,719 9,580 9,497
Farming households where men are business owners 93.3 10,000

Farming households having persons involved in management in addition to business owners 44.9
8,000
Farming households where both men and women are involved in management (1) 7.3 4,911 4,641 4,319
5,565 5,284
5,845 5,589
Farming households where only men are involved in management 4.5 5,745
6,000
Farming households where only women are involved in management (2) 33.1
Farming households where no one other than business owners are involved in management 48.4 4,000
Farming households where women are business owners (3) 6.7
4,808 4,939 5,178
2,000 3,944 4,076 4,473
Farming households where women are involved inmanagement policy decisions (= (1)+(2)+(3)) 47.1 3,305 3,599
Source: 2015 Census of Agriculture and Forestry, MAFF (commercial far households)
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
Changes in the number of certified female farmers 17年度 18年度 19年度 20年度 22年度 24年度 26年度 28年度

14,000 5.0%
Source: Survey on Entrepreneurship Activities of Women in Rural Areas Surveyed year
4.5% 4.6% 4.6% (as of March 31, 2017), MAFF
4.5%
4.3%
12,000

Sales turnover by entrepreneurship activities (past one year)

4.0% 11,241 11,102
3.9% 10,812
3.8% 4.0%
10,371
3.6% 9,925
9,700 9,524
10,000 3.3% 9,501

3.0% 8,791
7,845 4,862
5,160 5,232 3.0% 5-10 million yen
8,000 2,978 3,148
3,324 4,870
2.4% 2,454 4,386

2.2%
6,774
1,963
10-100 million yen
2.0% 2.0%
3-5 million yen
1.8% 1.9% 1,448
6,000
1.8% 2.0% 1.5%
4,896
1.6%

4,000
3,685
4,125 777 Less than 3
440
6,337 6,523 6,552
million yen 10.1% 10.2% 12.4% 18.6%
6,200 6,081
47.2%
5,882 5,950 5,870 1.0%
5,326 5,539 5,501
2,000 4,119
3,402 3,604 3,685
3,149
2,539 2,746
2,168
100 million yen or more Unknown
0 0.0%
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Joint applications (by married couples) Applications by women alone
Proportion of women

Source: Status of Certification of Plan for Improving Agricultural Management (by Business Type), MAFF
Source: Survey on Entrepreneurship Activities of Women in Rural Areas (as of March 31, 2017), MAFF ３
Promotion of family management agreement
○ The number of farming households having family management agreements has been increasing year after year and their proportion stands at
about 23%.
○ The importance of family management agreements should continue to be publicized for promotion of work taking work-life balance into
account
• Family management agreements are aimed at realizing modern family farming through talks by family members to determine management policy,
each member’s role, working terms and environments, etc. and are concluded in the presence of a third party or parties.
• The Fourth Basic Plan for Gender Equality (Cabinet decision in December 2015) calls for concluding 70,000 family management agreements in FY2020
as the performance objective.
Changes in the number of farming households having family management agreements Contents set forth in agreement
Unit: households Number of family households having family management agreements
70,000 Contents set forth Proportion

60,000 55,435 56,397 57,155

57,605 Agricultural management policy decision 93.3%
54,190
48,602 50,715 52,525
50,000
Work hours and holidays 92.4%
40,663 Division of roles in farming (division of work, bookkeeping, etc.) 84.5%
40,000 37,721
32,120 34,521 Labor remuneration (daily pay and monthly pay) 73.4%
30,000 28,734
Allocation of profit 67.8%
20,000
Management transfer (including succession) 57.4%
10,000 Source: Survey by MAFF (FY2017)
Note: Mutliple answers
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Source: Survey on Family Management Agreement, MAFF
Note 1. Data as of March 31 of every year
Merits of system
Note 2: Data as of March 31, 2010, are used for the number of households with family management agreements
in 2011 in certain local governments in Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture due to effects of
the Great East Japan Earthquake. ○ Program for investment in next-generation human resources in agriculture
(startup type)
Proportion of farming households having family management agreements In case of a married couple engaging in farming (if partnership is clarified by family
management agreement, sharing of management resources and other means), the
Number of households mainly engaged in couple combined earns 1.5 persons worth of pay.
252 ○ Certified farmers system
farming (thousand households)
In case of effective co-management, joint applications for certified farmers by
Number of farming households having family couple and others are permitted on such conditions as conclusion of a family
57,605
management agreements (households) management agreement stipulating allotment of income and participation in
Proportion of farming households having family management policy decisions.
22.9% ○ Farmer annuity
management agreements (%)
Set ratio of premium (20,000 yen) is financed by government subsidy for spouse
Source: Survey on Movement of Agricultural Structure, MAFF and successor involved in management under a family management agreement
Note: Number of farming households represents those mainly engaged in farming. Households mainly engaged in concluded with certified farmers and others who file blue-form tax returns.
farming are those that earn agricultural income larger than income from non-agricultural sources and have family
members or members who are younger than 65 years old and engage in farming for more than 60 days. ４
Promotion of women’s participation in the process of policy and agenda decision making in in roles
such as members of agriculture committees
○ Although the proportion of women to total members of agriculture committees and officers of agricultural cooperatives is
showing a rising trend, it is still 10.6% at agriculture committees and 7.7% at agricultural cooperatives.
○ The Fourth Basic Plan for Gender Equality (Cabinet decision in December 2015) set targets for the proportions of women to
total members of agriculture committees and officers of agricultural cooperatives, in addition to performance objectives in
the third plan, and efforts were made to attain them together with enlightenment activities to nurture local understanding
and momentum.

Changes in the proportion of women to total executive Performance Objectives of the Fourth Basic Plan for Gender
officers, etc. of farmers’ organizations Equality (Cabinet Decision on December 2015)
(Unit: Persons, %)
4. Promotion of gender equality in the area of regional and rural development
2000 2005 2010 2015 2016 2017
Number of members of
and environment
59,254 45,379 36,330 35,604 33,174 26,119
agriculture committees Items Target (Deadline) Present status
Number of females 1,081 1,869 1,792 2,636 2,671 2,773
Committees with no female members: Committees with no female members:
Proportion of females 1.8% 4.1% 4.9% 7.4% 8.1% 10.6%
0 326/1,703 (19.1%)
(FY2020) (FY2017)
Proportion of women in members
2000 2005 2010 2015 2016 2017 of agriculture committees Proportion of women in members of
Number of individual Proportion of women in members of
agriculture committees: 10% in early
regular members of 5,240,785 4,988,029 4,707,348 4,415,549 4,437,655 4,389,287 agriculture committees:
stage, and 30% in the future
10.6%
agricultual cooperative (FY2020)
Number of females 746,719 804,583 890,718 937,145 937,465 938,289
Agricultural co-operatives with no Agricultural co-operatives with no
Proportion of females 14.2% 16.1% 18.9% 21.2% 21.1% 21.4% female executives: 0 female executives: 109/651(16.7%)
Number of officers of (FY2020) (FY2017)
32,003 22,799 19,161 18,139 17,467 17,238 Proportion of women in executives
agricultual cooperative
of agricultural co-operatives Proportion of women in executives of
Number of females 187 438 741 1,313 1,305 1,334 agriculture committees: 10% in early
Proportion of women:
Proportion of females 0.6% 1.9% 3.9% 7.2% 7.5% 7.7% 7.7%
stage, and targeting 15% in the future
(FY2017)
(FY2020)

Source: Promotion of Women to Members of agriculture committees, MAFF

Statistics on Agricultural Cooperatives, MAFF Number of family management 70,000 57,155
Numbers of individual regular members and officers of agricultural cooperatives for 2015 and 2017 are based on agreements executed (FY2020) (FY2017)
the survey of (JA-ZENCHU (Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives)).
Note 1. The number of members of agriculture committees for each year represents the figure as of October 1 of each
year (or September 1 for 2015). Note) Figures related to agricultural cooperatives are based on the survey of (JA-ZENCHU (Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives)).
The number of agricultural cooperatives for each year represents the figure as of the last day of each business
year.
2. "agriculture committee members appointed through recommendation" means members appointed based on
the recommendations from municipal government councils, agricultural cooperatives, agricultural mutual relief
associations and land improvement districts.

５
 ('Projects to promote the future of agriculture women will change)
Assistance to women farmers FY2019 Estimated Decision Amount (¥79 million)

<Key points of measures>

Support nurturing of women farmers who can become leaders for local agriculture. Take measures, such as conducting experiments and examining
their effects at motivated management units, to make agriculture an attractive occupation for women to choose in order to promote the development
of environments where women can exercise their ability.

 Support for nurturing of women leaders for local agriculture  Support agricultural management entities contributing to
women’s empowerment

For managers,
For women farmers, Female leaders in
farming villages
Seminars • Conduct seminars on cultivation of
• Improve leadership ability
human resources, work-life balance and
• Learn branding technique
improvement of working environments
• Conduct seminars and surveys
• Provide advice and guidance by experts
in advanced areas
• Create portal sites
• Prepare problem-solving text
Seminars

Nurture women farmers equipped with leadership Operate role-model management units across Japan
quality Achieve work-style reforms in agriculture

Realize “agriculture” as an attractive career for women

６
Overview of “Nougyou-Joshi Project” Nougyou-Joshi Project

○ Create new products and services by linking women farmers’ wisdom to technologies and ideas of various
companies and others and widely disseminate information on them in the society (Reference: Enhance
women farmers’ presence and increase women choosing to engage in farming by linking women farmers’
wisdom to various companies and communicate their operations to the entire society. Under the project,
women farmers and companies cooperate in new product development and other operations)
○ Enhance the presence of women farmers in the entire society and encourage women farmers to change their
mentality and improve their management capacity through the project and increase young women selecting
agriculture as their career.
Promote individual projects Apply nougyou
joshi’s power to
Develop new products, services, etc. through collaboration between companies, companies, etc.
etc. and “nougyou joshi.”
Encourage nougyou joshi to exercise their three powers of “production,” Private
companies and
“wisdom” and “marketing.” educational
institutions
Promote PR activities of the project, etc. Apply power of
Nougyou joshi
Positively disseminate information on activities under the project such as progress in companies, etc. to
individual projects and seasonal events held from the viewpoint of nougyou joshi. nougyou joshi
Official website Official Facebook page
Official Website: https://nougyoujoshi.maff.go.jp/
Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nougyoujoshi.project
Data (as of December 2018)
○ Nougyou joshi: 716 women ○ Participant firms: 34
○ Educational institutions: 6 schools

Widespread dissemination of information to society

Enhance the presence of “nougyou joshi,” promote business development in cooperation with companies, and add high values to products → Strengthen
the presence of “nougyou joshi” (female farmers), improve the management of farming operations and add “agriculture” job options for young women
７
Companies and educational institutions
participating in Nougyou-Joshi Project
i - Agri Corp.
Reach Out to All
Farmers! Project
Kaneko Sougyo CO, LTD
Support for Bright Agriculture!
Farm Tools Project
SHIMAMURA Co., Ltd.
Everyday clothes for
nougyou joshi
Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
Nationwide Promotion of
Daihatsu x Nougyou Joshi
Marche! Project
TOYO HOUSING INC.
Project to Think of Future
of Housing with Nougyou
Joshi
FUMAKILLA LIMITED
“Lovely, Future and
Garden” Project
Yamato Transport Co., Ltd.
“Think of Logistic Support”
by Nougyou Joshi x
Kuroneko Yamato Project
ISEKI & CO., LTD.
Project to Support “Nougyou
Joshi” with Dreams
Kewpie Corporation
Aichi Everybody’s
Salada
Sharp Corporation
Promote seasonal
vegetables produced by
nougyou joshi
TANITA Corporation
Regional Vitalization via
Creation of Health Towns!
Project
TOWA Corporation
Support for Comforable
Agriculture Project!
MARUYAMA MFG. CO., INC
Project to Support
“Shining Agriculture”
Rakuten, Inc.
“Nougyou Joshi x Rakuma
Expansion of Trading in
Agricultural Products” Project
H.I.S. Co., Ltd. NTT DOCOMO, INC.
Nougyou-Joshi Project
Program for local community
~from viewpoint of SDGs~
KOSÉ Corporation CombiWith Corporation
Nougyou Joshi Beauty
Vol.3 PJ
Johoku Shinkin BANK
From “Production” to Improvement of brand and
“Creation”! Business & Life
Support Project
CHIKAMASA CO., LTD.
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
Project to Support Nougyou
Project to Create No-Nonsense
Future of Nougyou Joshi
Toyoshima & Co., Ltd
Fashion Reform Project
for Nougyou Joshi
Isetan Mitsukoshi
Holdings Ltd.
“Shape, Communicate and
Deliver” Thoughts Project
NIKKEN CORPORATION
Nougyou Joshi Toilet
Development Project
Nougyou-Joshi Project
ONSENDOJO INC. <Team Hagukumi>
Nougyou Joshi-Produced
NTT Docomo More
Alternative Bath Project and
J. F. Oberlin University
Mobile Life Project for Limited Sale of Plum
Lab and Pickled Plum
Future-oriented lifestyle
Combi Corporation Sakata Seed Corp. of nougyou joshi
Happy Vegetables and Happy Kamata Girls' High
Let’s Relay “Tasty!” to Agriculture Starting with School
Future Project Nougyou Joshi! Project
Spread one's wings from
Agriculture! Challenge
and Support Project
SEIKOU Co., Ltd. Zojirushi Corporation
Nougyou Joshi at Rice
management power by Conference in Rice Smile Kindai University
women’s power Project
Kindai-Style Nougyou
TOHO CO., Ltd. Joshi Nurturing Project
Cleanup of Filth and
Joshi and Make Farming Distress! Make Agriculture SANNO University
Work Comfortable!! More Enjoyable! Project
Minori (Crop) and Kizuna
BANDAI NAMCO (Bond) Project 2018
NIHON NOHYAKU CO.,LTD.
Amusement Inc.
“Agriculture x
Nichinoh Project to Think of Tokyo Kasei University
Entertainment” Creation Nougyou Joshi’s Tomorrow
Project
Project for Work-Life
MOMOTANI Montbell Co., Ltd. Balance in Nougyou Joshi
JUNTENKAN LTD.
Fieldware Tokyo University
Cooperative and Creative
Project to support nougyou
Development Project of Agriculture
joshi’s beautiful skin
Kawaii Nougyou Joshi
Nurturing Project to
Wacoal Corp. Propose New Work Style
Agricultural Science Department of
Amazing Underwear Development
Faculty Project Volume 2
 Principal achievements of corporate projects to date
Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
Development of light truck from
women’s viewpoint (September 2014)
• Colorfully painted in eight colors
• Adoption of UV-cut glass. Height of seat lowered for
easy getting-in and -out
TOYO HOUSING INC.
Model house “na go mi no N-jyo”
opened (May 2016)
• Adoption of dirt floor and room layout designed for
good balance between farming and living
• House with warmth and affection, matching nougyou
joshi, created by adoption of natural materials
Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd.
Sale of collaboration products as midsummer
and yearend gifts from October 2014)
• Sale of farm products produced by nougyou joshi as
midsummer and yearend gifts
Holding of marche (market) at Isetan Shinjuku store
Wacoal Corp.
Announcement of four kinds of
innerwear designed to make farming
comfortable (November 2016)
• Development of underwear that does not become
stuffy but readily dries after one sweats and is
comfortable in farming work
Nougyou-Joshi Project
KOSÉ Corporation
Holding of seminar for anti-ultraviolet ray
and other makeup to create favorable images
in agriculture (March 2016)
• Holding of seminar for anti-ultraviolet ray and -sweat
makeup to create favorable images for nougyou-joshi
who often work outdoors
CombiWith Corporation
Children’s experience of farming
(May 2017)
• Farming experience arranged in farm field by
members of Nougyou Joshi Project and cooking class
by dietician and feeding staff for nursery school
toddlers
９

Toyoshima & Co., Ltd
Announcement of “wearable vegetable T-
shirt” using discarded vegetables as dyeing
material (October 2016)
• Use of discarded vegetables as dyeing material
• Support for solution to the problem of food waste via
fusion of agriculture and apparel
ISEKI & CO., LTD.
Development of “Petit More” mower for
nougyou joshi (December 2017)
Attachment of QR code to show video for confirmation of
how to use, etc.
Improvements to make side clutch lever and grips
friendlier to users
Nougyou-Joshi Project
MARUYAMA MFG. CO., INC Rakuten, Inc.
Announcement of “Kiriri” sprayer created Sale of vegetables and processed products
based on nougyou joshi’s ideas (November produced by nougyou joshi at Rakuma (from
2017) November 2017)
• Design change to make back strap friendlier to users
• Opening of special site filled with nougyou joshi’s
• Attachment of dilution rate table makes amounts of
attractiveness
contained agents readily understandable
Support for sales via e-commerce
Montbell Co., Ltd. Kaneko Sougyo CO, LTD
Development of field rain wear Completion of “Lacuno” series
(June 2018) (November 2018)
• Release of 1st rain wear for women in series of field • Development of “Lacuno” series of user-friendly
wear incorporating opinions of nougyou joshi sickles, hoes and rakes
１０
Dissemination of information on Japanese women farmers activities to world
[Recognized as a model farmer by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Regional Office
for Asia and the Pacific]
Eri Otsu (from Kumamoto, a member of Nougyou Joshi Project) (October 16, 2017, Thailand)
[Outline of activities]
○ Otsu began working as a farmer together with her husband in Minami-Aso
Village in 2003 and has since engaged in activities to promote the use of
renewable energy while producing chemical-free rice. As the representative
of “Country Heroines,” she also pursues and proposes ideal ways of country
life and female agricultural managers’ life.
○ In addition, Otsu is involved in activities to contribute to the reconstruction of
disaster-damaged areas. To seek “creative rehabilitation” from the 2016
Kumamoto earthquakes, for example, she produced a “restaurant bus”
serving meals utilizing the nature of Aso and local ingredients.

[Introduced activities of women farmers in Japan at the side event of the UN Committee on the Status of Women (CSW)]
Kozue Yuki (from Yamagata, a member of Nougyou Joshi Project)
(March 15, 2018, at United Nations Headquarters in the U.S.)
[Outline of activities]
○ Kozue Yuki spoke at “Actions To Empower Rural Women and Girls,” an event
held on the sidelines of CSW hosted by 3 Japanese NGOs and the Permanent
Mission of Japan to the United Nations.
○ While Japan, Nepal, Tanzania and FOA introduced their activities, Kozue Yuki
reported that a network of female farmers she has gotten acquainted with
through the Nougyou Joshi Project contributed to the growth of her business
in such areas as processing of products and development of sales routes and
that she will work to create environments for the nurturing of next-generation
leaders.
 Award for Empowerment of Women at FY2018 Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries Festival
Prime Minister’s Award
Cacto Loco (President Nobuko Nozue)
(Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture)
Cacto Loco was founded in 2004 to raise fruit, rice and cows
but has shifted the focus of cultivation to succulent plants. It
currently cultivates some 500 kinds of cactus, a succulent
plant, with a workforce of 107, including 93 women.
Ms. Nozue has expanded markets for Cacto Loco’s products
via PR activities featuring visits to selling opportunities across
Japan to directly explain how to enjoy the products. She has
also reinforced the company’s selling power by developing
products utilizing young employees’ sensitivity.
Cacto Loco has adopted a flexible work system paying heed to
working women’s family environments while having a large
workforce so that they can address unexpected illnesses of
their children and attend their events. It has also improved
production sites as well as bathrooms and places for
relaxation. In addition, the company has placed women in
charge of all section by nurturing leaders.
Award of Japan Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries Promotion Association
Saori Masuda (Amakusa City, Kumamoto
Prefecture)
Masuda began to be involved in corporate management
following her marriage to the manager of Yuei Suisan farming
prawns in 2009. Amid toughening business conditions, she has
enabled the company to boost sales through direct sales with
consumers such as those via the internet.
Masuda founded Web Planning in 2013 and became its
president. Utilizing her relations with local fishermen, she has
developed prawns produced in Amakusa into a brand and
realized year-round shipments.
Masuda has conducted seminars to encourage women to
become independent and start businesses while making work
environments friendly to women. As a mother of four children,
she has also published a free paper to support mothers and
contributed to the establishment of a nursery school at their
request.
 (Reference) Framework for policy measures related to women in rural areas, rural communities (excerpts)
Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas Basic Act (July 1999)
Chapter II Basic Measures
Section 3 Measures for Sustainable Development of Agriculture
(Promotion of Women's Participation in Agriculture)
Article 26 Given the importance of both men and women being able to secure
opportunities to participate in all kinds of activities as equal members of society, the
State is to properly evaluate women's roles in agricultural management and promote
the development of an environment that allows women to secure opportunities to
participate in agricultural management and other related activities on their own
volition.
Basic Plan for Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas (Cabinet Decision in March 2015)
Part 3. Policy measures to be taken relating to food, agriculture and rural areas in a
comprehensive and planned manner
2. Policy measures relating to the sustainable agricultural development
(2) Creation of environments enabling women to exercise their abilities to the best
possible extent
Women farmers account for 40% of all farmers and play important roles in the
vitalization of local agriculture, promotion of agricultural management and
advancement of AFFrinnovation. For example, agricultural management entities with
women’s participation in the decision-making process show a stronger tendency to log
large sales and diversify operations than those without. But as a majority of leaders and
business owners are still men in rural areas, it is important to create environments for
further empowerment of female farmers through down-to-earth efforts to promote
consciousness reforms among both men and women such as reinforcement of women’s
networks.
Thus, to reflect female farmers and others’ views on local agriculture, female farmers’
participation in the process of working out “people and farmland plans” (which are
prepared through dialogues from the viewpoint of developing local agriculture and
show such issues as how farmland should be used by management entities that lead
local agriculture) has been made mandatory. In addition, the appointment of female
farmers as members of agriculture committees, executive officers of agricultural
cooperatives, etc. will be promoted.
Promote efforts for active utilization of women farmers and others in subsidy projects
for management entities.
Promote efforts to nurture female farmers as next-generation leaders and encourage
the growth of management by women making new challenges in agriculture.
Expand activities by the “Nougyou Joshi Project,” such as development of new products
and services by combining female farmers’ wisdom with private companies’ technology,
know-how, ideas and so forth.
The Fourth Basic Plan for Gender Equality (Cabinet Decision in December 2015)
Part I Core concepts
Promote efforts to create a society of gender equality, which should pursue the following four
goals.
(i) Made vibrant and rich in diversity, by men and women demonstrating their individuality
and abilities, respecting their own choices
(ii) A place where the human rights of men and women are respected, where individuals can
live with dignity
(iii) Realized work-life balance of both women and men through reformation of “men-oriented
working styles”
(iv) Recognized internationally for gender equality, which should be positioned as the most
important issue in Japan
Part II Basic Policy Directions and Specific Measures
I. Women’s participation and advancement in all fields of society
[Promotion of gender equality in the area of regional and rural development and environment]
3. Expansion of women’s participation in policy decision-making processes related to rural
areas
Encourage local governments and groups involved in agriculture, forestry and fisheries to set
specific targets in an effort to expand women’s participation.
In an effort to facilitate women’s participation as equal partners of men in managerial and
other aspects, promote initiatives aimed at identification of roles and status of women in
agricultural management and improvement of women's economic status.
4. Creation of environments friendly to female workers in rural areas and rural communities
and consciousness and behavioral reforms
Promote efforts to create working environments, etc. to avoid excess burdens on women and
achieve a work-life balance in rural villages.
Correct behavioral patterns dictated by deeply entrenched belief in the stereotyped perception
of gender roles, which has yet to be rooted out in certain rural areas and rural communities,
and promote mental and behavioral reforms in all opportunities.
Shining Women Farmer Training Program (2014 -)
(Build a society where women shine: headquarter decision in October 2010.)
Challenges and policy measures seen from women’s viewpoint
3. People willing to shine or launch businesses in their localities
○ Creation of environments to increase opportunities for launching businesses
Promote the “Nougyou Joshi Project” for the development of new products and services
through cooperation between women farmers and companies, etc. for the sake of supporting
the empowerment of women in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. (“Nougyou-Joshi
Project -- Campaign for women farmers to be more active in agricultural business by
cooperation with various industries to tap women farmers’ knowledge and experiences). Hold
seminars and other events to nurture female agricultural business owners as next-generation
leaders, reinforce their networks and promote the growth of businesses by women taking on
new challenges in agriculture. 12