【News】 Agricultural co-ops group chief to step down amid push for reform (April 10, 2015)

JA-Zenchu President Akira Banzai speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday, April 9.

JA-Zenchu President Akira Banzai speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday, April 9.

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), said Thursday, April 9, that he is stepping down, at a time when the government is working on reforming the JA group.

At a press conference held after the central union’s board meeting, Banzai said the Cabinet’s approval of a bill to overhaul the organization, made on Friday, April 3, became a kind of a “breakpoint” for him to make the decision.

“I hope a new central union under a new president will give a boost to conducting self-reform,” said Banzai, who had been expected to serve until August 2017. “I made the decision with positive intentions.”

The new president will be decided at an extraordinary general meeting in August.

Banzai stressed that he made the decision all by himself, adding that he had been thinking ever since he became president that he might have to make certain judgements at certain stages.

He called on co-op members to work together to tackle agricultural co-ops reform and revision of rice policies.

JA-Zenchu plans to formally work out procedures at a board meeting in May to elect a new president.

Banzai became the 13th president of JA-Zenchu in August 2011, after serving as the head of JA Niigata Mirai, an agicultural co-op in Niigata Prefecture, and the prefectural union in Niigata. He put the top priority on revitalizing areas hit by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, while working on agricultural policy issues such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks and revision of rice production adjustment policies.

He was reelected in August 2014 amid intensifying debate on reforming farm co-ops. He negotiated with the government and ruling parties based on JA-Zenchu’s self-reform plan, and agreed in February on an outline of what he called an “unprecedented organizational overhaul” of farm co-ops, including turning the central union into a general incorporated association.

Senior Executive Shigeo Fuji also announced his decision to resign for health reasons. He said he could carry out his duty in a time of drastic change thanks to support from many people. He said a contender to replace him would be Takeshi Kanai, general manager of JA-Zenchu’s department for reform strategy. The new executive lineup will be decided in May.

<Analysis>

JA-Zenchu President Akira Banzai, asked by reporters the reasons for resigning, stressed the need for the organization to reform itself under a new leadership, and dismissed speculation that he is taking responsibility for accepting the government’s plan to overhaul the central union.

Although the unexpected news came as a shock to JA members, the JA group must proceed with self-reform in order to meet the goals of increasing farmers’ income and revitalizing rural areas.

Banzai said he had judged it would be necessary for JA-Zenchu to be led by a new executive lineup as it shifts to a new organizational structure. Needless to say, the new president bears the responsibility to conduct step-by-step reform for the sake of primary JAs.

The JA group has no time to waste, as many concerns remain over agricultural reform and the TPP negotiations and it is important for the organization to keep on working for its members and the community.

Preparations are going on for the group’s national convention, which is held every three years, scheduled in October. JA-Zenchu must tackle self-reform without wavering.

(April 10, 2015)

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