自民農協改革案 全中の指導体制温存を許すな

The Yomiuri Shimbun
JA-Zenchu structure must not emerge unscathed from LDP reform plan
自民農協改革案　全中の指導体制温存を許すな

How can the JA Group of agricultural cooperatives be drastically overhauled to reenergize Japan’s farming industry? This reform process is about to face a moment of truth.
　日本農業の再生に向けて、農業協同組合（ＪＡ）グループの抜本的な改革をどう実現するか。正念場はこれからだ。

The Liberal Democratic Party has completed its agricultural reform plan. The centerpieces of the plan are revamping the leadership of regional agricultural cooperatives, which is currently concentrated in the hands of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu), and shifting JA-Zenchu’s structure to a new setup.
　自民党が農業改革案をまとめた。全国農業協同組合中央会（ＪＡ全中）を頂点とした地域農協に対する指導体制を改め、全中を新たな組織へと移行させることが柱である。

In response to criticism that the group’s all-encompassing administrative leadership has sapped the motivation of producers, the LDP’s plan would restrict JA-Zenchu’s role to collating the wishes and purposes of agricultural cooperatives, as well as liaising and coordinating among them.
　自民党案は、画一的な経営指導が生産現場の意欲を損なってきたとの批判を受けて、全中の役割を地域農協の意思集約や連絡・調整に限定するとした。

The reforms aim to end JA-Zenchu’s excessive intervention into the affairs of regional cooperatives, and promote the switch to a more “proactive” form of farming that gives greater play to the self-initiative of farmers. We think the direction of the plan makes sense.
　全中による地域農協への過度な介入をやめさせ、自主性を生かした「攻めの農業」への転換を促す改革の方向性は妥当だろう。

The LDP plans to solidify details, such as the group’s new structure after the JA group reviews its organizational makeup, and revise the Agricultural Cooperatives Law and other laws during next year’s ordinary Diet session.
　自民党は具体的な組織の在り方などについては、ＪＡグループ内の検討も踏まえてさらに詰め、来年の通常国会で農協法などの改正を図るとしている。

However, it is disconcerting that essential elements of the reforms remain undecided.
　気がかりなのは、改革の肝心な部分が固まっていないことだ。

Last month, the government’s Regulatory Reform Council proposed that JA-Zenchu be abolished. JA-Zenchu vehemently opposed the idea, stating the move would “lead to the dismantlement of the JA Group.” We cannot escape concerns that the LDP reform plan could be watered down due to such fierce backlash from JA-Zenchu.
　先月、政府の規制改革会議は全中の廃止案を打ち出した。これに対し、全中は「ＪＡグループの解体につながる」と、猛反発した。自民党の改革案が今後、全中の巻き返しによって「骨抜き」にされる懸念は拭えない。

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One idea being floated was to change JA-Zenchu’s status from a corporate body based on the Agricultural Cooperatives Law to a general incorporated association. But simply changing its status while it retains powerful influence over regional agricultural cooperatives will not improve the effectiveness of the reform.
　全中を農協法に基づく法人から一般社団法人などに移行させる案も浮上しているが、地域農協への強い影響力が温存されれば改革の実効性は上がるまい。

It remains unclear how the LDP will handle JA-Zenchu’s levy system, through which ¥8 billion is collected annually for operating expenses from agricultural cooperatives and other sources nationwide.
　全中が地域農協などから年間８０億円の運営費を上納させている賦課金制度の扱いも不透明だ。

We think legal revisions should be made to abolish this collection system for vast sums of money that, along with JA-Zenchu’s extensive administrative authority based on the Agricultural Cooperatives Law, form the base of its power.
　農協法に基づく強い経営指導権とともに、全中の権力基盤となっている多額の集金システムを、法改正で廃止すべきである。

In the reform plan, the LDP said it would “positively consider” converting the group’s National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (JA Zen-Noh), which runs a shipping and sales network for products grown by farmers, into a stock company.
　自民党案は、農作物の集荷や販売を担う全国農業協同組合連合会（ＪＡ全農）の株式会社化を「前向きに検討する」とした。

It is a reasonable objective to support closer ties between JA Zen-Noh and companies through such means as mergers and acquisitions as well as expanding their operations through diversified capital procurement.
　資金調達の多様化による事業拡大や、合併・買収（Ｍ＆Ａ）の手法も使った企業との連携強化を後押しする狙いは適切だ。

Steadily implementing reforms in areas other than the cooperatives will also be needed. The LDP plan included a call to raise the cap on business investment in agricultural production corporations from “25 percent or less” to “less than 50 percent.”
　農協以外の改革も着実に進める必要がある。自民党案は、農業生産法人に対する企業の出資制限を「２５％以下」から「５０％未満」に緩和することも盛り込んだ。

About 400,000 hectares of arable farmland in Japan has been abandoned, an area equivalent to all of Shiga Prefecture. We expect the involvement of more companies in agriculture will result in more effective use of farmland and more efficient management of the farming industry.
　国内の耕作放棄地は滋賀県の広さに相当する４０万ヘクタールに上る。企業参入による農地の有効利用と、農業経営の効率化に期待したい。

Negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal are within grasping distance of a major agreement. The nation cannot afford to put off strengthening the competitiveness of its agricultural sector. Japan must quickly implement agricultural reforms that reward motivated farmers.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉も大詰めの段階で、日本農業の競争力強化は待ったなしである。意欲ある農家が報われる農業改革を急がねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 11, 2014)