The NEDA Regional Office 02 (NRO 02), represented by Ms. Rizza T. Andres, a Senior Development Specialist of the Policy Formulations and the Planning Division (PFPD), together with the representative from NRO 08, Mr. Archie Labordo, participated in the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Training Program for Young Leaders (TPYL) on Rural Development Course held in Iwate Prefecture, one of the best places to experience rural life in Japan.

The training was joined by 16 young leaders of the country working in the different government agencies and non-governmental organizations with the aim of deepening the knowledge and awareness among young future leaders especially in addressing issues pertaining to rural development. The training was conducted through combinations of lectures, actual field visits and field work/ homestay, which made the learning more exciting and realistic.

Most of the places/sites visited were production and processing centers/areas of the different key agricultural commodities produced in Iwate (e.g., rice, vegetables, fruits, etc.). The groups also visited the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake stricken areas wherein recovery and rehabilitation activities are still ongoing.

One of the most remarkable activities enjoyed by the participation during the training was the homestay experience, part of the green tourism concept of Japan. During the homestay at farmers house, the participants stayed about 2 nights and 3 days with their host families in farm villages to enjoy interacting with the nature, local culture, agriculture and forestry, to experience a sense of time and space different from their daily activities.

Meanwhile, during the training both countries presented brief overview of their rural development including the major challenges that confront the sector. Evidently, both countries face the challenge of improving the growth in the agriculture sector particularly by increasing the value and competitiveness of agricultural products. This challenge becomes more critical given accession of the countries to different trade liberation agreements (i.e., Trans-Pacific Partnership, ASEAN Integration); the degree of vulnerability of the agriculture sector to natural disasters; and the serious issue on ageing of the population engaged in agriculture and the low level of interest of the young people to farming as work/profession. These different issues faced by the rural sector of both countries, however, are addressed by the respective governments so as to sustain growth of the sector.

The experience of the 16 young leaders in Japan has brought them with several observations and learning and, the most significant of them was the appreciation of the Japanese culture and values. Japans development is indeed rooted from their culture and values which they treasure and preserve all these years, which undoubtedly helped in sustaining its economic status in the world economy.

After the training program, the participants are optimistic and eager to share and apply in their respective work places the knowledge and skills they have gained for the improvement of rural development sector of the Philippines.