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JA-ZENCHU (Central Union of Agricultural
Co-operatives) is an apex body of Japan's agricultural
co-operative movement, representing the interests of Japanese
farmers and their agricultural co-operative organizations
(JA Group).
The basic objective of JA-ZENCHU is to contribute to the
sound development of activities of the JA Group through
formulating the common guideline and programs of their
activities as well as through promoting implementations
of these programs by the member organizations of the JA
Group in this country.
In order to attain such objective, JA-ZENCHU plays various
functions, in collaboration with its members of 47 Prefectural
Unions of Agricultural Co-operatives throughout the country,
including management guidance, auditing, farm policy representation
and public relations activities for JAs (agricultural
co-operatives) and their business federations. It also
provides education and training services to staff members
and officials of those organizations.
JA-ZENCHU, an independent nonprofit organization with
the membership of all JAs and most of their JA organizations
in the country, is operated with membership fees paid
by these member organizations.
In the international field, JA-ZENCHU is engaged in many
activities for promoting friendly and cooperative relations
with a number of agricultural co-operatives and farmers'
organizations in the world, while serving as a member
of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and the
International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP)
to represent the interests of Japanese farmers and the
JA Group.
It also makes continuous contributions to the
development of agricultural co-operative movements in
developing countries by itself and through its affiliated
international training center named IDACA (the Institute
for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia). In 1963, IDACA was established at Tokyo with
funds mainly raised by agricultural co-operatives in Japan.
The aim of this Institute is to provide training opportunities
to leaders of agricultural co-operative organizations
in developing countries for advancing their activities
and thereby promoting socio-economic betterment in their
rural communities. |
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