Category Archives: Cooperatives

  The National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (JA Zen-Noh) announced Monday, May 12, that it will establish a company with Saitama-based yakitori restaurant firm Hibiki Food Service Group to open 50 restaurants by 2019 to offer domestically-produced pork and chicken dishes. The new company, J-ACE Hibiki, will be the first business entity in the JA group to receive investment from a JA fund to promote farmers’ sales of processed farm products. It hopes to support the nation’s meat production industry by strengthening sales of domestically-produced pork and chicken. Both JA Zen-Noh and Hibiki say they can benefit from the joint venture, as JA Zen-Noh has a nationwide system which … Continue reading →

  Senior Staff Writer, Masaru Yamada – Buenos Aires Representatives of farmers worldwide discussed the need for both industrialized and developing countries to cooperate to support family farmers and tackle such issues as food security and climate change at the fourth general assembly of the World Farmers’ Organization held on Thursday, March 27, in Buenos Aires. On the second day of the meeting, Toshiaki Tobita, vice head of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), made a speech on the JA’s role in supporting farmers and revitalizing local economies. Tobita, who attended a session on “value chain” – how to create values in production and distribution of agricultural products – … Continue reading →

  The National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (JA Zen-Noh) announced on Thursday, March 27, that it has been granted an exclusive license to use ThermoSeed – a new disinfection method for grain seeds – in Japan. JA Zen-Noh says the technology, which eradicates all kinds of diseases on seeds using hot humid air, can contribute to cutting costs and improving business conditions of rice and wheat farmers. JA Zen-Noh Executive Director Shuji Yamazaki and Douwe Zijp, CEO of Netherlands-based INCOTEC Group which markets ThermoSeed, also announced that the two parties signed a partnership agreement to spread the technology among Japanese farmers. JA Zen-Noh plans to ask agricultural experiment stations … Continue reading →

  The Norinchukin Bank announced Friday, Feb. 28, that it has signed a partnership agreement with Japan Agricultural Corporations Association to create a business support project team in the association with the bank official as a team leader. The team will offer management consultation services for agricultural corporations, including loans and developing sales channels, in order to support such corporations and help them strengthen ties with the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives group, which the bank is a member. As the government is introducing the more competition-based agricultural policy in fiscal 2014, focusing on farmland consolidation and abolishment of rice production adjustment, the bank hopes to provide agricultural corporations with knowhow on … Continue reading →