38 EROPA Bulletin
Governance (Policy Issues)...
(From page 37)
ideal set-up – team approach, care team, protection
measure, community general support and center’s
management council, among others. Ms. Ohta shared
some practices and innovations in selected local
governments on small-size multi-function care facility
(day care), community integrated care, and home care
services in old houses. She also identified key factors
that affect performance including the importance of
local leaders – and their linkages with the central
government – as a key factor in the success of the
program. The leaders are asked to become members
of the advisory committee for the central government.
Other factors include demographics, political,
institutional, and financial factors. Although there may
be some competing forces that affect implementation
of the localization policy for elderly care like multiple
actors and functions, the potential and success of the
top-down process to localization may be attributed
to the bureaucratic character of Japan. Ms Ohta
concluded by noting that state bureaucracy is very
strong in Japan, but flexible to persuasion, and may
encourage interest groups and policy actors.
Key Factors Affecting the Success of Organic
Agriculture in Thai Communities: Three Case
Studies in Ubonratchathanee and Srisaket Provinces
Using case studies,
Prof. Pasupha
Chinvarasopak
examined the success
factors of organic
agriculture,
despite the very
slow adoption rate in
Thailand, which is
lower than the average
in Asian countries. In her
framework, she introduced the key concepts of policy
implementation, social capital, and sufficiency
economy philosophy, a model of which was shown by
highlighting
the interacting concepts of sufficiency, reasonableness
and self-immunity. With this model, she proposed
Vol. 34 Nos. 3-4 (July-December 2013)
a new theory in agriculture. Key findings of her
cases include the following: reduced cost, increased
income (but debt remains), benefits of organic farming
(better seed, environment, health, self reliance, etc.),
increased group power (knowledge sharing, helping
one another in farm work, increased negotiating
power, easy access to support, and creation of a
friendly working environment), increased support
systems in the areas of knowledge, certification,
tools and equipment, and market. She concluded
that, despite the power, groups need support in every
aspect. She added that organic agricultural policy
should be tailored to groups, and be supported by
other players, particularly the government. When
asked a