Tag Archives: News

【News】 Interview with Akira Banzai, head of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives – JA-Zenchu – (Feb. 27, 2014)

  After the Trans-Pacific Partnership member countries closed their ministerial meeting in Singapore without reaching any agreement, JA-Zenchu head Akira Banzai told The Japan Agricultural News in an interview that he will continue closely monitoring the TPP negotiations and demanding the government to protect key agricultural products from tariff elimination. Q. How do you evaluate the current situation of the TPP talks? A. In the latest ministerial meeting, as in previous meetings, Japan was in a difficult situation as exporting countries of food products strongly called for tariff cuts, including tariffs on sensitive agricultural items. But I reckon Japanese negotiators and Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers in Singapore worked together to … Continue reading

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【News】 Agricultural cooperative officials in Aichi help restore greenhouses destroyed by snow (Feb. 26, 2014)

Officials of Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) Aichi Higashi are helping farmers restore greenhouses damaged by the heavy snow which hit the mountainous Okumikawa region in Aichi Prefecture in mid-February. According to JA Aichi Higashi, more than 50 greenhouses were destroyed in such municipalities as Shitara and Toyone in the region. JA, the municipal governments and the prefectural government are expected to hold a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26, to discuss measures to cope with the situation. Snow is cleared away from most of the main streets in Toyone, where 80 percent of the 549 households suffered power failure due to heavy snowfall, but residents are busy removing snow from small … Continue reading

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【News】 Japanese and Canadian agricultural groups to cooperate on TPP (Feb. 25, 2014)

  Hirobumi Senbongi – Singapore Akira Banzai, head of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), met Wally Smith, president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, in Singapore on Monday, Feb. 24, and agreed to work together to fight against the United States’ pressure to open agricultural markets. Referring to the Trans-Pacific Partnership member countries’ ministerial meeting held in Singapore, Smith told Banzai that countries other than Japan and the U.S. are paying attention to the two nations’ bilateral negotiations on tariffs. His remark reflects Canadian dairy farmers’ hope that Japan will negotiate tenaciously to maintain tariffs on key farm products, as that will make it easier also for Canada … Continue reading

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【News】 Farmers call on the government to protect key agricultural products (Feb. 21, 2014)

  Ahead of the ministerial meeting of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks scheduled to begin on Saturday, Feb. 22, some 800 representatives of farmers nationwide gathered in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 20, to urge the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to protect farm products. Mitsuo Murakami, vice head of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu), pointed out that fears are growing among farmers over reports that Japan is considering making compromises in the TPP negotiations. He said he “is doubtful and even angry toward the government’s hasty, weak-kneed attitude,” and demanded that the government and the LDP keep the resolutions adopted by the party and the Diet’s agricultural … Continue reading

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【News】 First case of deadly pig virus confirmed in Chubu region (Feb. 18, 2014)

  The Aichi Prefectural Government announced Monday, Feb. 17, that a suspected case of porcine epidemic diarrhea at a farm in Yatomi, Aichi, was officially confirmed as the first case of PED in the Chubu region. There are no other suspected cases reported in the prefecture, according to the prefectural government. The case in Yatomi was first discovered in Monday, Feb. 10, and the prefectural government’s genetic testing conducted on Wednesday, Feb. 12, showed a positive reaction. Fattening hogs at the farm are showing recovery, but 10 suckling piglets were reported dead. The farm is continuing to take disease control measures including disinfecting. PED has very high mortality in piglets … Continue reading

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