Monthly Archives: November 2014

【News】 Japanese agricultural co-op group calls for legal grounds to give itself a new role (Nov. 7, 2014)

  The Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu) on Thursday, Nov. 6, decided on specific measures for self-reform, including clarifying functions of central and prefectural unions and stating them in the Agricultural Co-operative Society Law. The self-reform plan says central and prefectural unions should be tasked with three roles – representing and advising primary JAs and working as a liaison among them – and stating them in the law so that the unions will be legally responsible for the tasks. The plan states the group’s basic goals are increasing farmers’ income and agricultural production and revitalizing local areas, and calls for creation of 100 billion-yen, five-year program to support primary … Continue reading

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【News】 Number of female officials in JA-Zenchu increased to 1,277 (Nov. 7, 2014)

  The number of female officials (directors, executive managers, and auditors) in the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operative (JA-Zenchu) increased to 1,277 as of July 31, 160 more than that of last year, the JA-Zenchu reported Thursday, Nov. 6, at the council meeting. This resulted from activities trying to follow the guideline of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) that promotes increase in the number of JA’s female officials like last year. It seems that the JA-Zenchu wants to take women’s power and pave the way for its consistent reform. This result was surveyed by JA-Zenchu and the National Council Agricultural Corporative Women’s Associations (JA Joseikyo). Among 699 … Continue reading

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【Interview】 Expert on agricultural trade warns of U.S. Congress’ moves to deliver export-boosting trade deals (Nov. 6, 2014)

  Shinji Hattori, professor emeritus of Toyo University and expert on Japanese agricultural trade, discusses the possible impact of the Republican sweep of the United States’ midterm Congressional elections on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks. The final election results are still outstanding at the time of the interview, but it would be impossible for the Republican Party to take up 60 seats in the 100-member Senate which are necessary to end debate on a bill and move on to voting. So it would not be possible for Republicans to have complete power over the Senate. The structure of Democrats cautious about free trade hindering Republican advocates of free trade will … Continue reading

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【News】 Local protests rising over nuclear dump site in Miyagi (Nov. 5, 2014)

  Kozo Hikage Farmers of Kami, Miyagi Prefecture, are strongly protesting against the government’s plan to construct in the town a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste, including those collected from the disaster-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. The Environment Ministry was scheduled to begin late last month a drilling survey at three locations in the prefecture including Kami, selected as candidate sites to store radioactive substances exceeding 8,000 becquerels per kilogram. But the surveying work was stalled in Kami amid demonstrations by residents. The ministry hopes to end the survey by the end of this month before snow starts falling, but prospects are unclear as farmers insist … Continue reading

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【Opinion】 Shinji Hatta ; Abolition of the Central Union’s auditing will deteriorate competitiveness (Nov. 4, 2014)

  <The auditing function of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu) has been one of the focal points of the arguments over the reform of the Agricultural Co-operatives (JA). Shinji Hatta, professor at Aoyama Gakuin University offered his view in his contribution to the Japan Agricultural News> The Japan Revitalization Strategy, which was revised on June 24, placed “shift into aggressive agriculture, forestry and fishery industries” as a key policy to improve competitiveness of the industries. In any industry, it is difficult to secure economic rationality and creative business operation unless independence as an economic entity and sound competition have been promoted, and the agricultural industry is no exception. … Continue reading

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