TOKYO, Aug. 8 ― One year ago, when he was selected as Japan’s most powerful farm group chairman, Toru Nakaya promised to commit the group’s self-reform during his term.
Nakaya, chairman of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-ZENCHU), now tells The Japan Agricultural News that his group is “very much focused on continuing to reform.”
“The JA group self-reform will never end,” Nakaya said.
He also stressed that his group needs to make the public to understand the importance of achieving the country’s food security, given its low rate of food self-sufficiency.
The calorie-based rate of self-sufficiency remained flat at 37.78 percent in 2017, according to the agriculture ministry. That was the second lowest level in its history, despite a recover of harvest after heavy rains in northern Japan.
Nakaya succeeded Choe Okuno last year, and he said: “My top priority is to make farm income grow. In addition, I will aim to make our group indispensable among farmers as well as in their communities.”