Annual Report 2009 - Asian Productivity Organization

A research project on the subject was conducted in
2007 and 2008 by experts from eight member countries.
To review and disseminate the research findings,
the APO organized a follow-up workshop on the Development
of Competitive Supply Chains in Agribusiness
in Vietnam, 23–27 November. The objective was
to review the supply chain models researched for their
replication/adaptation; and to examine the findings
of the previous research for wider dissemination. The
VPC implemented the program. Eighteen participants
from nine member countries and two resource persons
attended.
Program coverage: Developing competitive supply
chains in the Asia-Pacific region; Successful and
sustainable agribusiness supply chains; Review and
analysis of the models of agribusiness supply chains
researched; Review of the preceding research findings
and synthesis research report; and Formulation of
recommendations and action plans. A half-day visit to
a VietGAP-certified vegetable farm was conducted.
Strengthening Small Farmer and Agribusiness Linkages
for Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and
Agribusiness Competitiveness
Globalization and market liberalization are increasingly
changing the market environment for agricultural
and food products. These changes are posing greater
challenges to small farmers and small and mediumsized
agribusiness enterprises in Asian developing
countries. Therefore some farms and business firms
have established various types of business linkages to
strengthen their competitiveness, including contracts
between farmers and retailers to maintain a stable
supply of agricultural products and collaboration
between farmers and food-processing companies to
develop new types of processed food. Food-processing
companies may also provide seeds, fertilizer, and technical
guidance to farmers to improve the quality of the
products it purchases. A number of useful examples
that have mutually benefited both small farmers and
agribusiness enterprises can be observed in APO
member countries and elsewhere.
The APO organized a workshop on Strengthening
Small Farmer and Agribusiness Linkages for
Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness
Competitiveness, 28 November–2 December, in IR
Iran to examine successful models of small farmer and
agribusiness linkages in agriculture which enhance
market access, productivity, and competitiveness for
both parties; identify critical factors for sustainable
partnerships between small farmers and agribusinesses;
and examine the best practices of such partnerships
in member countries. Nineteen participants from 10
countries attended, along with three resource persons.
Program coverage: Global trends in agribusiness and
strategic alliances between small farmers and agribusiness
in horticulture and agronomic fields; Contract
farming as a tool to promote farm to agribusiness
linkages; and Strengthening agribusiness linkages
with small farmers for supply-chain and value-chain
development. Field visits were made to Sabziran Co.
Ltd., a food-processing company; and Navab Safaris
Agricultural Cooperative.
Promotion of the Local Agrofood Industry Using the
Industrial Cluster Concept
A concentration of interconnected enterprises, suppliers,
service providers, and associated institutions in
a region sometimes results in increased productivity
and the creation of new products and business models.
The concentration of enterprises of this type is often
called a “cluster.” It has been pointed out that the
effective collaboration, cooperation, and competition
among major stakeholders (enterprises, suppliers,
service providers, etc.) in a region are the key factors
for the success of clusters. It is useful to study successful
examples of collaboration and cooperation among
major stakeholders in the agrofood industry in a local
region for replication in member countries.
Therefore the APO organized a multicounty observational
study mission on the Promotion of the
Local Agrofood Industry Using the Industrial Cluster
Concept, 8–15 December, in Japan to investigate
how the host country promotes the local agrofood
industry through active collaboration among farmers,
food manufacturing companies, research institutes,
and commercial enterprises in the region. Mission
delegates also formulated strategies for applying the
methods in their countries. Fourteen participants from
eight countries attended, with three resource persons.
Program coverage: Application of the industrial
cluster theory to the food industry; Agrofood business
development through multisector cooperation; and
Case study of policies for promoting cooperation
between food industry and agriculture. Field visits
were made to Koshu, Yamanashi prefecture; Hibiki
Co., Ltd. (Kawagoe Style Club); M.C. Roa Co., Ltd.;
Kasahara Sangyo Co., Ltd.; and Shinagawa shopping
street.
Sustainable Development in
Agriculture
Agricultural Productivity Enhancement in Asian
Least Developed Countries
The Special Program for Agricultural Productivity
Enhancement in Asian Least Developed Countries
(APE-LDC) was launched in 2004 with financial
support from the Government of Japan, Ministry
APO ANNUAL REPORT 2009 49
AGRICULTURE SECTOR