Dear Surje san
My reply is late. I’m a slow writer, and my responses tend to be lengthy. Since Mr. Fukushima and Mr. Omote will be busy with the JICA training program for about a month, the following is my personal summary.
At the general meeting held on June 5, the dispatch to Shankharapur and financial assistance for the invitation expenses from Shankharapur City were approved. The main objective of our activities in Sankhu, scheduled to begin in August, is to work with the people of Shankharapur to consider what the agricultural sector can do for the development of Shankharapur City and to create a feasible plan. Once we have compiled a set of feasible ideas, we would like to apply for JICA’s Grassroots Program for next year.
What specifically can we do? In the discussions of the RGAD Study Group, there are two main ideas. Both share the common belief that agricultural development is essential for the growth of the local economy in Shankharapur, a place rich in history, culture, and way of life.
1. Establishing a marketing hub (distribution center) for agricultural products in Shankharapur
2. Unlocking the agricultural production potential of Shankharapur City’s vast sloping lands
The model for the first initiative—establishing a marketing hub—is the relatively small-scale “Michi-no-Eki” (roadside stations), which contribute to regional revitalization in Japan. Using smartphones, farmers bring in small quantities of “high-quality” agricultural products. Individual farmers can check via their smartphones whether the produce they brought has sold; if the feedback is positive, they can sell more. By observing sales trends at the “Roadside Station,” farmers learn what sells well, verify the quality of each other’s produce, and improve quality. This leads to the dissemination of techniques among farmers and is welcomed by local consumers.
Once a collection system for agricultural products is established, it will be possible in the future to ship produce from Shankharapur to the Kathmandu market at stable prices. The accounting and payment system for sales will also be automated—since this requires cooperation from banks offering small loans, it will also lead to commercial development. Since we have experts among our members who developed the information management systems for Nexag and the “Roadside Station,” preparing an application for JICA’s Grassroots Program may be more advantageous.
The second idea is to place greater emphasis on the development of agriculture in mountainous areas, where road improvements are currently increasing agricultural production potential.
Farmland in central Sankhu is becoming specialized for rain-protected tomato cultivation, and as urbanization progresses, it is becoming difficult to maintain the rice-summer potato-winter potato cropping system. Potato scab is primarily caused by continuous potato cultivation. There are no pesticides effective against the virus, so it is now time for village-wide measures, such as introducing new crops. Returning to the traditional rice-wheat rotation would eliminate cash income, so we must decide what to choose as an alternative crop to potatoes. If growing broccoli or similar crops, measures to address poor drainage are necessary to prevent clubroot disease. A friend of agricultural extension experts recommend sweet potatoes—in Japan, the market for roasted sweet potatoes is steadily expanding and is particularly popular among women.
In Japan, various policies have been implemented to preserve agriculture within cities. The national and local governments keep tax rates on urban farmland low and regulate residential development in the area. However, efforts by farmers themselves to increase the profitability of agriculture are of the utmost importance. Irrigation associations and agricultural cooperatives are indispensable infrastructure, but their role is strictly to support farmers.
The city of Shankharapur could likely control the pace of farmland conversion by creating residential development guidelines without incurring significant costs. As urbanization progresses, improving “drainage capacity” has become more critical for agriculture in central Sankhu than securing water supplies. The city must take the lead in improving the water management system, where irrigation and drainage are not separated.
It is time for Shankharapur City to take the initiative and devise effective methods to increase agricultural production throughout the city. In this context, agriculture in the mountainous areas appears to hold greater potential, particularly given the development of the road network.
The farmers on the slopes whom I visited with Deputy Mayor Samita showed high motivation to produce, and it appears there is potential for growing a variety of agricultural products, such as bananas and medicinal herbs. In this context, a system for collecting and transporting agricultural products is crucial. Since Kathmandu, a major consumer market, is right nearby, Shankharapur’s agricultural advantages remain significant. Shipping early in the morning can also prevent the deterioration of fresh vegetables caused by traffic congestion.
In Japan, the depopulation of rural villages has led to a loss of regional vitality, and various initiatives are being undertaken by the villages themselves to address this problem. While in Japan, the national government, local governments, and agricultural cooperatives (farmers’ organizations) collaborate on activities, it is not so simple for local governments and residents to cooperate in creating programs unique to their villages.
When we were students, the term “brainstorming” was all the rage, and there was interest in “methods of intellectual production technology” even at the university level. Professor Jiro Kawakita, who had studied Nepal for many years, developed a problem-solving method called the KJ Method—“which does not distinguish between the ‘heart’ and the ‘hardware’”—and worked to popularize it. Mr. Fukushima and Mr. Omote, in a JICA training program on irrigation associations, adopted a method called PDM that involves all training participants in solving irrigation problems.
Developed not by researchers but by anonymous practitioners—anyone can start it, anywhere. This is “Ｊｉｍｏｔｏ–Ｇａｋｕ, Local studies by Local people,” as advocated by Mr. Omote. I believe it would be best to start by creating the “Shankharapur Local Resource Map” recommended by “Jimoto-Gaku” together with all of you. The following outlines part of that philosophy.
What is a sustainable initiative? It begins by placing the power of self-governance—doing things for ourselves—at its core.
Three vital elements are essential: aiming for people to be vibrant, the local natural environment to be vibrant, and the local economy to be vibrant.
Creating a local resource map: Unless we investigate it ourselves, we cannot truly understand our local area. By conducting repeated interviews with local residents about their lifestyles, a local resource map may take shape.
The power of thinking: Connecting, layering, and separating—> We create our own maps, compile a village chronicle, and search for the “original spirit” that breathes within it.
Recombining what is already there in new ways: Giving up because “we don’t have this or that” is second-rate work.
We aim to shift from problem-solving community development to value-creation-oriented development. To achieve this, building a network without a central hub is crucial, and it is important to connect and work together without being self-contained.
So, why not start by creating a map of local resources through “discussion” and “collaboration” in Shankharapur? We are here to assist you—as for language barriers, let’s look to future AI for solutions. In doing so, we must not forget Shankharapur’s role in the Kathmandu Basin—not only culturally but also economically. In terms of history, culture, religion, and daily life, Sankhu is a unique and invaluable entity. While we may not have given much thought to the role of agriculture until now, we must prioritize it. Taking modern Japan as an example: should we aim for a purely rural area in the hinterland of Kyoto, or for the agriculture of Saitama Prefecture, which is connected to Tokyo? Let’s consider this from a broad perspective. Agriculture thrives in both cases!
Please provide more specific details regarding the seed potato program. While I understand the importance of Surje’s “Potato Seed Renewal Project,” RGAD is considering a budget of 60,000 yen. Securing high-quality seeds for agricultural products is a top priority. It is an essential condition for establishing a major production area. However, seed potato production requires technical expertise and capital, involves various risks, and is likely to fail as a private enterprise.
In Japan, regional agricultural experiment stations and agricultural cooperatives take responsibility for supporting seed potato farmers through government policies and subsidies. Ten years ago, we visited with Sundhal, Julm, and Anita to inspect the fields of seed potato farmers in Obihiro, Japan. There, highly skilled farmers produce seed potatoes under very strict cultivation regulations. I will send you the cultivation regulations for Hokkaido’s seed potato production fields later. For seed potato farmers, profitability is low when considering crop rotation and other planting arrangements; they view production as necessary for the benefit of the region.
Japanese agricultural cooperatives are organizations capable of purchasing agricultural supplies, selling agricultural products, and providing credit to farmers. They carry out their operations in collaboration with administrative bodies. This differs significantly from agricultural cooperatives in Europe and the United States. At this stage, establishing an organization for seed potato production in Shankharapur seems very difficult, so we have no choice but to opt for gradual “varietal improvement”—based on the belief that “if we produce high-quality products, they will eventually sell.”
Agriculture in Shankharapur is full of potential. Applying for a JICA Grassroots Program through the valuable Sankhu organization will help secure funding for our activities. However, even more important is the work of creating our own plans and gathering the necessary information. For this application, we have asked the Rotary Club to serve as our counterpart. The participation of people other than farmers is crucial for protecting agriculture. Furthermore, the involvement of the government is essential.
Our NPO has operated with the mission of connecting researchers (students) with farmers in developing countries. Currently, we have only a dozen or so members, our membership is aging, and we lack financial resources. The reason we have been able to maintain our exchange with Sankhu thus far is due to the cooperation of Mr. Surje and his family, as well as the people of Shankharapur. This cooperative relationship can be sustained through the internet, particularly AI.
We will do our best and carry on.
Fumio Osanami