Government pushes to announce the second NH Reform Plan in July–August

The government is preparing a second reform proposal in a direction that would distribute the powers of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, and plans to announce it between July and August. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the NH Reform Promotion Team are moving forward with discussions centered on restructuring governance, revitalizing economic businesses, and improving the system for cooperatives and members. In particular, measures to disperse the Federation's authority, ways to split business divisions, ease member qualification requirements, and expand participation by young farmers are under review. The government’s policy is to release the second reform proposal through a public discussion process at the time when legislation for the first reform proposal is completed. However, as differences in position between the government and the NH side continue over the direct election system for the Federation chair and the establishment of an external audit committee, the pace of handling the first reform proposal has slowed somewhat.