Akira Banzai, head of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), expressed strong opposition on Wednesday, May 14, to a state panel’s proposal on reforming the organization, saying it is far from the actual situations of the organization or the intentions of its members.
Banzai said that the proposal, which include breaking up of JA, restricting non-farmer members’ use of JA services, converting the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (JA Zen-Noh) in charge of marketing farm products into a corporation and giving freer hand to primary agricultural co-ops, does not reflect the JA group’s management principles and can lead the group to split up.
He stressed that the JA group is a private cooperative organization which is working on reforming itself based on members’ will and entrustment, saying that the organization’s autonomy should not be threatened.
The JA group will make every effort to realize its own management reform plan by calling for lawmakers’ support with the aim of increasing farmers’ incomes.
(May 15, 2014)