１． Aim
| In the midst of economic liberation, the usage of chemical fertilizers and agricultural chemicals at Asian rural areas seemed as though they were enhancing the food production at one point. On the other hand, there have also been reports on the usage of these chemicals exacerbating the disparity of wealth and status, the rights of the women and the weak in the villages, the living and independence of the small-scale farmers, and the conditions of the soil and the natural environment. In order to solve these problems, we must advance the small-scale farmers, popularize sustainable agricultures and livings for these farmers, and listen to the voices of the weak. Such diffusion and popularization acts for sustainable agriculture will stabilize the agricultural productions of the small-scale farmers, who tend to be unstable otherwise in marketing their products, and will promote their freedom. The acts will also encourage the women of the villages, who do 60% of the labor in the field and are responsible for the agricultural productions, to participate in sustainable ways, so to break the convention and sexism, thus, ameliorating their social status and independence. |
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Even yet, the reality is that such kind of international sustainable agricultural development projects are not as promoted as they should be in rural villages in Asian countries. Moreover, the NGO of Japan that do projects related to agricultural development tend to focus its aim on urban areas, especially capitals of the countries, thus, the international projects that promote rural villagers’ participation are rare. ASHA sets its head office at Tochigi Prefecture, and is planning to encourage the locals to participate in its activities and projects.
The proposers of ASHA, Yoshioh Tamura, Kazuho Makino, Azuma Yamagata, and Teruo Miura, have all had rich experiences in agricultural development-related projects in many Asian countries, such as India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Philippines, for over 15 years. Makino, especially, has been involved in the projects at Allahabad Agricultural Institute at U.P. State (current: Sam Higgingbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences) for over 40 years, promoting agricultural advancement in India, diffusing sustainable agriculture, ameliorating village lives, training female leaders, promoting hygiene, increasing literate children by encouraging education, etc., with the support of private organization in Japan. His works have been highly recognized, and he has received Minister of Foreign Affair Award in 1997.
Tamura has contributed his private expenses to establish Asian Rural Welfare Association, and has been sponsoring the trainings of Asian agricultural development leaders for 15 years. Yamagata and Miura have been training agricultural development leaders from Asia and Africa at Asian Rural Institute for over 15 years, and have been involved in sustainable agricultural development projects in countries such as India and Myanmar. We believe that their experiences will propel the international relations and the power of the local people. Moreover, we believe that the international activities that involve local participants will act as motive power of world peace, and will be further needed in the future.
Accordingly, we name this non-profit organization “ASHA = Asian Sustainable Holistic Approach,” and we aim to organize and lead projects that support the independence and sustainable lives of the Asian rural agricultural people, and to live together with the farmer.
２．Application Process
On January 2003, during the seminar on sustainable agriculture in India, Kazuho Makino and Teruo Miura, two of the proposers of ASHA, discussed about the possibilities of establishing an NPO, and the necessities of sustainable activities, participation of Japanese agriculturists and local people, and the expenses necessary to establish such an organization. On September that year, the two gathered detailed information necessary to establish such an organization. On January 2003, four proposers, Yoshioh Tamura, Kazuho Makino, Azuma Yamagata, and Teruo Miura, met and discussed about establishing this organization in detail. On February 3rd 2004, we opened an establishment general meeting.
February 4th 2004
NPO ASHA = Asian Sustainable Holistic Approach
Board Member (Board Leader at the time of establishment)
Address: 321-0904 Utsunomiya-shi Yoto 3rd Avenue 7-8
Name: Yoshioh Tamura
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Specific Nonprofit Orgainzation ASHA ＝ Asian Sustainable Holistic Approach
