Women's entrepreneurial activities in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, such as ventures into farm restaurants, morning markets and food processing using local agricultural products, have increased significantly in recent years. These kinds of activities are not only conducive to women's participation in management and financial independence, but also make a sizeable contribution to the revitalization of local communities and economies and exchange between cities and rural villages. Since FY1997, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is conducting a national survey in cooperation with Regional Agricultural Extension Centers in order to grasp of the circumstances on rural women's entrepreneurial activities.

An outline of the results of the FY2001 survey (January 2002) follows:

Women's entrepreneurial ventures numbered 7,327 nationwide
Women's entrepreneurial ventures numbered 7,327 nationwide, 72% of which were managed by groups. Compared to the previous survey (as of January 2001), group-managed ventures increased by 2.2%, and individually-managed ventures soared by 23.3%.

Food processing using local agricultural products dominates
Analysis of the content of these activities shows that local agricultural produce is used in the majority of cases: 68% involved food processing, such as jams and pickles; and 41% involved sales and distribution, such as morning markets and direct sale to the public. (Multiple answers)

Agricultura production	Food processing	Processing of non-food products	Sales & distribution	Exchange with urban areas	Services	Other
553 (7.5)	4,962 (67.7)	302 (4.1)	2,976 (40.6)	467 (6.4)	30 (0.4)	53 (0.7)

Incorporated ventures					Non-incorporated ventures
	Private limited companies	Agricultural producers' cooperative corporations	Joint-stock companies	Others
123 (2.3)	56	38	8	22	5,129 (97.7)

Name	Dates	Ministries and Agencies Promoting Events
Rural Women's Day	10 March	Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Gender Equality Week	23 - 29 June	The Cabinet Office and Ministries comprising the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality
One-month Campaign on Equal Employment Opportunities between Men and Women	June	Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
One-month Campaign for Harmonization of Work and Families	October	Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
Promotion of Measures to Counteract Violence Against Women	10 March	Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Campaign to Eliminate Violence Against Women	12-25 November	The Cabinet Office

This table shows day, weeks and months specially designated by the Government of Japan to give a central focus to campaign designated to improve the status of women, promote equality and redress traditional gender-role concepts. National conference, symposia and other activities to promote understanding of Gender Equality are organized over these periods.