There is a growing awareness amongst policy-makers, entrepreneurs, researchers and farmers of the importance of interrelationships between different actors in an attempt to solve the problems of outlet markets for rice farmers through contract farming, and the consequent need for adequate analysis as a precondition for rice sector development. The close links between actors referred to as "linking together the four houses" - government, enterprises, researchers and farmers - have been acknowledged by the central government and related stakeholders. However, more work is needed to understand and put into practice these links.

This paper attempts to map some of the key links in "linking together the four houses", which should be taken into account when developing strategy, as well as approaches to supporting farmers in producing and selling their rice products. In particular, it suggests that supporting policy and coordinating governance institutions provide an important function in creating links. Some key challenges to achieving better synergy in practice amongst the "linking the four houses" are identified, with special reference to a case study from Chiba prefecture. Finally, the paper proposes a number of recommendations that point to areas where further work is required - which must be practically implemented in order to more effectively coordinate the links within these partnerships.