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.
JA-Zenchu President Akira Banzai (left) explains the JA group’s self-reform plan to LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba on Monday, June 2, in Tokyo.
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 JA’s credit and mutual aid services to the JA group’s financial institutions and making JA specialize in agency services, as well as restricting non-farmer members’ use of JA services.
On the same day, JA-Zenchu held a meeting of JA representatives and adopted a resolution to confirm that the JA group will work together to go ahead with its self-reform plan. Banzai handed the resolution to Ishiba, asking the party to support JA’s move to contribute to revitalization of agriculture and rural villages.
Ishiba noted that the LDP has no intention to dismantle the JA group, saying that the important thing is to focus on how to expand agricultural production and maintain rural communities.
The LDP’s project team discussing the reform of the JA group is scheduled to come up with a conclusion as early as Friday, June 6.
(June 3, 2014)