The newly appointed president of JA Zen-Noh, Yoshito Kamino, endorses the government's decision to release stored rice at low prices to address rising consumer concerns about rice prices.
On October 6, Yoshito Kamino, the president of the Nagano Central Agricultural Cooperative, was appointed as the new head of JA Zen-Noh, an umbrella organization supporting approximately 500 agricultural cooperatives across Japan. This change in leadership comes after nearly three years and is significant as Kamino openly praised the government's previous strategy to release stored rice at lower prices. He believes this approach was justified amid fears that rising rice prices might lead to reduced consumer purchases and possible economic consequences if left unchecked.
JA Zen-Noh, which traditionally served as a guiding force for agricultural cooperatives, underwent significant changes in 2019 due to agricultural reforms that stripped it of direct oversight authority over local cooperatives. Instead, the organization has shifted its focus to providing management support and policy recommendations, a transition that has not been without challenges. After a failed development of a system to assist local cooperatives, the previous president, Toru Yamano, stepped down before completing his term, leading to Kamino's candidacy and subsequent official appointment during an extraordinary general meeting of the organization.
Kamino's presidency is set to last until August 2029. As he assumes his role, he emphasizes the need for the farming community to be proactive in policy formulation to address issues arising from the volatile rice market, indicating a readiness to collaborate with government strategies aimed at stabilizing prices and assuring food security for consumers against potential economic pressures.
