Nara City will launch the "Nara Agricultural Management Academy" from Reiwa 6 (2024) to promote regional agriculture by improving the income of farmers and the farming environment. The program, which was previously offered as the "Nara Agricultural Support School" to support farmers in expanding their sales channels in Reiwa 4-5 (2022-2023), has been renewed as the "Sales Expansion Course." In addition, a new "Management Improvement Course" has been established to stabilize the foundation of management by accumulating small improvements from outside the production site for challenges faced by individual farms.

In Reiwa 7 (2025), the "Sales Expansion Course" will be updated to the online "Sales Skill Enhancement Course." This course will be conducted in a small seminar format, with instructors visiting participants' farms for field observation, aiming to strengthen sales capabilities while addressing specific individual challenges.

In Reiwa 8 (2026), the course structure will remain the same, but the start date will be advanced by more than two months, making it easier for farmers who previously had to give up due to the busy season to participate.

Program Supervision & Main Instructor

Mr. Tomohiko Sagawa, Representative Director of Farm Side Co., Ltd., will continue to serve as the program supervisor and main instructor, as in Reiwa 7 (2025).

Tomohiko Sagawa, Representative Director, Farm Side Co., Ltd.

Graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of the University of Tokyo. After working for a foreign-affiliated company, he joined Abe Pear Orchard (Tochigi Prefecture, Utsunomiya City) in 2014. Serving as the right-hand man to the representative, he implemented 500 large and small operational improvements, achieving smart management despite the small scale. He has now founded Farm Side Co., Ltd., and is expanding the nationwide movement for farmers' management improvement through lectures and management support. Author of "Graduated from Todai, Became a Farmer's Right-Hand Man. 100 Small Management Improvement Know-How" (Diamond-sha).

Management Improvement Course

Course Overview

The Management Improvement Course is a practical program where farmers identify "slight inconveniences" or areas they "want to improve" in their daily work, convert them into small adjustments that can be tried on their own farms, and accumulate their implementation. In addition to four lectures, the course includes field visits to participants of the "Sales Skill Enhancement Course" (planned) and support through SNS groups between participants and instructors. The fourth (final) session will feature presentations by participants on their implemented management improvement initiatives. By making improvement efforts a habit, participants will develop the ability to independently pursue management improvement even after the course concludes. To make it easier for previous participants to retake the course, optional participation will be provided for overlapping content.

Location

Nara City Hall, etc.

Target Audience

Agricultural, forestry, and livestock producers under 65 years old who have a farm in the city and make a living from agriculture (family members and employees under 65 are also welcome to participate).

Capacity

Approximately 10 people

*Participants will be decided in consultation with the commissioned contractor.

Participation Fee

Free

Application

Apply via the Nara City website

Nara Agricultural Management Academy "Management Improvement Course"

https://www.city.nara.lg.jp/soshiki/110/269597.html

Deadline

August 19, Reiwa 8 (2026) (Wed)

Sales Skill Enhancement Course

Course Overview

The Sales Skill Enhancement Course focuses on individual farmers' direct sales. Through one-on-one consultations with instructors and group consulting in a small seminar format, participants will set goals, create action plans, and implement them, aiming to solve specific sales-related challenges.

Field visits to participants' farms are also planned, providing insights that are more closely related to their actual operations.

This course is positioned as an advanced course to the Management Improvement Course, supporting farmers who have acquired the basics of management improvement to further increase their income.

Content

Schedule: Conducted from July to November

Content (Planned)

Individual consultation (1 session): Current situation hearing, goal setting, action plan creation

Seminar (4 sessions): Implementation reports, consultation sessions, field visits

Location

Online, etc.

Target Audience

Participants of the "Nara Agricultural Support School" in Reiwa 4-5 (2022-2023)

Participants in Reiwa 6-7 (2024-2025) (either Management Improvement Course or Sales Expansion Course)

Participants of the Reiwa 8 (2026) Management Improvement Course

*Participation in the Sales Skill Enhancement Course only is not permitted.

*Must be under 65 years old at the time of application.

Capacity

Approximately 3 people

*Participants will be selected and decided in consultation with the commissioned contractor.

Participation Fee

Free

Application

Apply via the Nara City website

Nara Agricultural Management Academy "Sales Skill Enhancement Course"

https://www.city.nara.lg.jp/soshiki/110/269597.html

Deadline

July 10, Reiwa 8 (2026) (Fri)

Reference

[Implementation Report] Reiwa 7 (2025) Nara Agricultural Management Academy "Management Improvement Course" and "Sales Skill Enhancement Course"

https://www.city.nara.lg.jp/soshiki/110/246885.html

Contact Information for this matter

Nara City, Agricultural Policy Division

0742-34-5142

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: 教育