Diet deliberations on the bill to revise the Agricultural Co-operative Society Law have entered their final stage, as the government and ruling parties aim to pass it in the Lower House next week. They are prepared to accept partial changes in supplementary provisions of the bill in order to gain support of opposition party Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party). Meanwhile, farmers and primary agricultural co-ops (JAs) expressed various concerns over the bill at the regional public hearings held on Monday, June 8, indicating the need for more careful deliberations. The government considers the bill as one of the top priority issues in the current Diet session. The Lower … Continue reading →

  The Lower House agricultural committee held regional public hearings in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Showa, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Monday, June 8 to listen to opinions from farmers and executives of primary agricultural co-ops (JAs) regarding the bill to revise the Agricultural Co-operative Society Law. Participants at both hearings showed understanding for the need to reform the current system of agricultural co-ops, but few of them gave full support to the bill submitted by the government, with many expressing doubt over its effect to expand farmers’ income and calling for more careful deliberation at the Diet and explanation to farmers. At the hearing held in Kanazawa, attendants expressed concerns over … Continue reading →