Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/42901

This study aimed to evaluate the new system of agricultural advisory services of the Japanese Agricultural Co-operatives (JA), especially Large-scale JA in Hokkaido. Under current economics circumstances, some JAs have decided to achieve economic merit by large-scale merging. However, seeking this merit of scale can often go in the opposite direction in building good relationships with members. We explored JA KITAMIRAI which employs a new system of agricultural advisory services to achieve both the merit of scale and fostering good relations with its members. The new system is characterized by a unique organization which encourages staff of the JA to visit memberﾕs farm to give advices directly. We found that the new system of advisory services have the possibility to achieve economic merit of scale and foster a good relation with members as long as JA establishes a new system of business management and education of the staff of JA.