The first vocational school to train agricultural entrepreneurs (Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan)-Reconstruction of primary industry and return of young people to rural areas in September 2006

The first vocational school to train agricultural entrepreneurs (Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan)-Reconstruction of primary industry and return of young people to rural areas in September 2006
In 2006, the aging of Japan's agricultural workforce and the lack of successors were serious issues. The average age of farmers was over 60 years old, and the lack of bearers, especially in mountainous regions and areas with large farmlands such as Hokkaido, was directly linked to the problem of the survival of local communities. The government was promoting "structural reform of agriculture" and was clarifying its policy to shift agriculture from being "protected" to being "managed.

One program that attracted attention was the "Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training Curriculum" developed by an agricultural college in Obihiro City, Hokkaido, Japan. In addition to conventional farming techniques and animal husbandry training, this program was designed to cultivate practical management skills for "making a living from agriculture," including environmentally friendly agriculture, marketing, fundraising, distribution, and incorporation know-how.

A particular feature of the program was its business design based on environmentally friendly farming methods (reduced use of pesticides, organic farming, and local production for local consumption), which allowed students to learn onsite in cooperation with local farmers, JA, and local companies, with a view to becoming independent farmers immediately after graduation. This was groundbreaking in that it presented rural youth with the option of "starting their own business," rather than simply finding a job.

At the time, local governments were also strengthening their support for farmland rental and housing for those who wished to make a U-turn or I-turn, and this was connected to the new "urban to rural" migration model. The experiment in a relatively large agricultural area such as Obihiro spread to agricultural high schools and vocational schools nationwide, and was regarded as the forerunner of a new trend in agricultural human resource development.

This article showed one hope for building sustainable local communities as a progressive effort that combines rural agriculture, education, and entrepreneurial spirit.