On Monday, March 4, 2024, the Agribusiness Management Master’s Study Program, Department of Agricultural Socioeconomics, Gadjah Mada University, held a guest lecture on the exciting topic of “Contract Farming in Japan.” This event was open to students at the Master’s level as well as Undergraduate and Doctoral students in the Department of Agricultural Socioeconomics.
At the event, lecturers from Tohoku University, Japan, Prof. Tsuyoshi Sumita, known as Sensei Tsuyoshi, Also present as moderator was Mrs. Rosalia Natalia Seleky, S.P., M.Agr., Ph.D. from the Laboratory of Agricultural Economics, Shimane University, Japan.
Prof. Tsuyoshi discusses Contract Farming in Japan in depth. He explains the concept of community farming, its differences from contract farming, and its history and sustainability in Japan. In the discussion, it is emphasized that Indonesia and Japan have similar challenges in the agricultural sector, especially related to the problem of the age of farmers who tend to be older and the lack of interest of the younger generation in being involved in agriculture.
Community farming in Japan originated from the need for labor during the cultivation process, giving rise to a labor exchange system between farming households. This system allows farmers to use machinery and coordinates the cultivation process and financial turnover. The production results are then marketed collectively through cooperatives.
Prof. Tsuyoshi not only provided an overview of the practice but also inspired the application of a similar concept in Indonesia, considering the country’s great potential in the agricultural sector. The success of community farming in Japan shows that coordination and efficiency can be achieved through this model, especially in terms of costs.
The importance of integrating this topic with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be overlooked. Practices such as community farming and contract farming in Japan have great potential to support the achievement of several SDGs, especially those related to poverty alleviation, food security, and sustainable economic development.
Thus, this guest lecture provides new insights into the agricultural context and invites us to consider how these concepts can be adapted to achieve sustainable development goals.