Japan Press Weekly

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2013 January 23 - 29 [AGRICULTURE]

Farmers resolve to block Japan’s entry into TPP

The National Federation of Farmers Movement (Nominren) on January 23 adopted a two-year action program aiming to block Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal, build a sustainable society, and revive agricultural districts.

The program was adopted on the last day of Nominren’s 20th National Convention, held on January 21-23 in Tokyo.

Nominren President Shiraishi Jun’ichi noted in his opening address that since its last convention two years ago, Nominren has played an important role in supporting the victims of the March 2011 disaster as well as in putting pressure on the government and the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to compensate local residents for damages due to radioactive contamination. “Let’s work harder to prevent Japan from participating in the negotiations on the TPP, through creating further solidarity with the general public,” he said.

As a guest speaker, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi referred to the fact that Nominren opened a direct sales store of agricultural products in Fukushima Prefecture, which has special procedures for checking whether those products are contaminated with radioactivity, and that the federation organized a nationwide network to provide the disaster victims with food. He stressed, “Nominren has exerted a strong presence nationally as a farmers’ organization through its various movements.”

Pointing out that the Abe Cabinet has clearly revealed its positive attitude towards the TPP, Ichida said, “Let’s work together to inform more people of the danger of the free trade agreement and force Abe to give up his intent to join.”

In discussions, a delegate of the Hokkaido branch remarked that if the scale of farming is enlarged to the same extent as that in Australia, the number of farmers in the Tokachi region will decrease from the current 700 to just six. He said, “Many local people are concerned about what will become of the town if the LDP supporting the TPP wins the upcoming Upper House election.”

Representatives of Fukushima and Ibaraki branches reported that they won farmers’ trust through the movement seeking compensation for the damage caused by the nuclear accident and increased their membership by more than 100.

The Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), the largest farmers’ organization in the country, sent its message to the convention in solidarity with Nominren’s efforts opposing the TPP.