Japan Press Weekly

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2009 December 2 - 8 [JCP]

Agriculture committee members have talks with JCP Dietmembers

They made representations to all parties in the Diet based on a resolution adopted on the same day at the agricultural committee chairs’ meeting.

They pointed out that some members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan are considering allowing business entities to enter into agriculture businesses, and expressed concern over the continuation of local autonomous activities and efforts to preserve farmlands if they enter into local agricultural operations.

JCP House of Councilors member Kami Tomoko and House of Representatives member Takahashi Chizuko stated that the JCP has been holding meetings with a wide range of people who are involved in farming and has sponsored symposiums based on its “Agriculture Revitalization Plan” which proposes the establishment of systems to support the prices of farm products and farmers’ incomes in order to increase Japan’s self-sufficiency rate. The JCP lawmakers requested the visitors to relate to them their local situations so that the party can lead Diet discussions incorporating farmers’ voices and presenting their demands.

The meeting of agricultural committee chairs, attended by about 1,000 people, adopted a three-point resolution calling on the government to improve subsidy programs supporting farmers, strengthen structures in accordance with the revision of the Agricultural Land Act, and work to prevent expansion of imports in its WTO negotiations.

Coming into force this month, the revised Agricultural Land Act enables joint-stock firms to rent farmlands.
- Akahata, December 4, 2009