A survey conducted by JA ZENCHU (Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives), an apex organization of agricultural cooperatives (JAs) in Japan, revealed that a number of JAs’ female executives (board members, members of management supervisory committees, and auditors) totaled 1,305 as of the end of July 2016.
The national total number decreased by one person over the last year because of amalgamations of agricultural cooperatives.
Female officers occupy 7.5 percent of the national total of JAs’ executives, o.3 percent up. An average number of the female executives per JA accounts 1.98 women, getting close to a current target of two female officers at each JA which has been set up by agricultural cooperative organizations in the country.
“Triple crown JAs”, which achieved three major targets of female members’ participation in JA’s management, “more than 25 percent of JA’s regular members,” “more than 10 percent of delegates to its representatives’ assembly” and “more than two members of its executives”, increased to 84 cooperatives by 5 over the last year.
The “triple crown JAs” occupies 15.6 percent of 537 JAs, applying a representative assembly system as members’ decision-making body, 4.0 percent up.
A number of JAs electing no female executives declined to 122 cooperatives, showing a decrease of 10 over the last year.
Efforts have been continuously made to facilitate female members’ participation in JA’s management. Some JAs allocate a certain number of seats of a board meeting especially for female members, and others persuade women members to run for executive posts through holding a meeting between those members and JA’s directors.