Laboratory of farm business management

Staff

Akira Kiminami, Professor
Hironori Yagi, Associate Professor

Outline

Laboratory of farm business management and rural development conducts various researches on management of agricultural and its related business and management of the environment and resources in the region. Management is to formulate a strategy, form an organization, and to carry out activities efficiently and effectively towards the realization of the goal. Then it consists of the five functions of planning, organization, command, adjustment, and control. These activities are carried out in the markets for procuring resources, in the markets for selling products and services, and in the environment formed by the government on the one hand. On the other hand, there are activities to make others to do what a manager wants to do in the organizations. Therefore, there are areas of business environment management and organization management. Both are often contradictory, but it is considered that growth and stability will be realized only by overcoming the contradiction between the two. Then there is an area of management of growth and stability of farm business. The point of our research is how to formulate strategies that adapt to changes in the social and economic environment, plan and manage organizations appropriate for strategy, and realize sustainable development of farm business and region. As a method of research, we are advancing theoretical research based on fieldwork based on management science and related economic studies. Our research subjects are not limited to domestic problems but have international perspectives and conducted research aimed at international comparison of farm business management in Asia, the United States, Europe etc. and contribution to rural development in developing countries. We are conducting research based on problem-solving approach and case methods with emphasis on practicality.

Education Policy

Through the farm business management and rural development education, we aim to develop academic human resources with practical skills to tackle with various ongoing rural and agricultural problems.
For master course students, to find research questions is a first step. Not only reviewing previous literatures, acquiring realistic view on the rural and agricultural issue is quite important. Theories and methods on the farm business management are learned through the course works. In thesis writing both quantitative and qualitative method can be applied in this field. Most students carry out field surveys including interviews to professionals such as farm managers, local authorities, and company representatives. In order to arrange, conduct and fulfil the field surveys, hence, communication and planning skill are required. Analysis is improved through the discussion in our seminar. Finally, students are encouraged to present the result both in academic conferences and practical meetings.
For doctor course students, academic contribution is more emphasized. Theoretical novelty as well as empirical originality is discussed through the seminar regularly held. In addition to publication in the academic conferences and journals, it is encouraged to collaborate with academics and other experts outside the university.
There have been enormous existing publications in this field, even more, there are unsolved problems in the real rural and agricultural fields. The expertise in farm business management and rural development are, therefore, highly required. Academic professionals having abilities in designing researches, involving people, and solve ongoing rural problems with realistic evidences are, we believe, really meaningful careers and those who we aim to provide through our post graduate education.

Research topics

• Strategic management in farm business
• Organization and human resource management in farm business
• Marketing and branding of agricultural products
• Information, technology and knowledge management in farm business
• Sustainable rural development in the less favored areas
• Farm business and land use in peri-urban and urban agriculture

Publications

• Kiminami Akira, Morishima Teruya “Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Development in Agriculture” Japanese Journal of Farm Management 54(1), 2016, 3-12 (in Japanese)
• Wickramaratne Aruni, Kiminami Akira, Yagi Hironori “External Relationships and Entrepreneurial Orientation of Tea Manufacturing Firms in Sri Lanka”, International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 20(3), 2017, 293-306.
• Dang Thi Kim Hoa, Kiminami Akira, Yagi Hironori “Contract Choice in Raw Material Procurement of Agribusiness Firms in Vietnam”, Studies in Regional Sciences 47(1), 2017, 65-77.
• Yagi,H., An Empirical Application of the Linear Programming Model for Agricultural Land Use Planning through the Valuation of Negative Externalities Caused by Abandoning Farmland in Marginal Areas, Japanese Journal of Rural Economics 10, 2008, 1-11.
• Yagi, H. , Presistence Possibility of Urban Farms in Japan: Cases from Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture, Journal of Rural Planning Association 32 (3), 2013, 416-417.
• Yagi,H. and G..Garrod，The future of agriculture in the shrinking suburbs: The impact of real estate income and housing costs，Land Use Policy，2018.