The Activities of Agricultural Products Processing and Future Strategies by Rural Women Groups in Japan

일본농촌여성의 농산물가공활동과 발전가능성 - 효고현(兵庫懸)의 농촌여성가공회를 중심으로 -

Investigations were made on the status of women groups on processing activities of agricultural products for the Hyogo prefecture in Japan. The data were analyzed with the Hideyosi for Windows(Version 1.19) and the Econometric View for Quantative Micro Softwere(Version 2.0). The results indicats that many rural women groups have their own experience on the activities of processing agricultural products and many other women groups have gained such experience from the management and establishment of the restaurants and direct sales stores. This kind of systems has influenced the activation of each rural district. Further development of the processing of agricultural products by rural women groups in the future demands better cooperation among diverse groups involved in these establishment centers and consumers. In addition, it is necessary to attract young people and train and upgrade them for successive consumers. (Korean J of Human Ecology 2(1) : 68∼79, 1999)