Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

  Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), expressed determination on Monday, June 2, that the organization will restructure itself by its own will. Speaking to Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, Banzai called on the ruling party to respect the autonomy of JA-Zenchu, which is a private self-governing organization, in discussing agricultural reform.   Ishiba showed understanding for JA-Zenchu’s role of promoting agriculture and rural communities, and pointed to the need to conduct reform by taking into consideration the actual conditions of farmers. Concerns are growing among farmers and local residents who use JA’s services after the government’s Regulatory Reform Council announced proposals including transferring … Continue reading →

  The International Cooperative Alliance President Pauline Green criticized the Japanese government advisory panel’s proposals on agricultural reform, saying they pose a threat to the unity and welfare of farmer co-operatives and family farming. “The proposal totally disregards the values and principles of co-operatives,” Green noted in her remarks posted on the organization’s website on Sunday, June 1. “The whole global co-operative movement – owned by a billion of the world’s citizens – will stand with their Japanese fellow co-operators in opposition to the dismantling of the Japanese agricultural co-operative movement and the diminution of the members’ rights,” Green said. Titled “Japanese agricultural co-operatives and family farming threatened by reform … Continue reading →