Japanese agricultural cooperatives at crossroads: a review

The Changing Agricultural Structure:  The Japanese

liberalization  and relaxation of favorable treatment

agricultural sector is shrinking as between 1960 and 2005

received from the Ministry of Finance. This situation has

contribution to GDP has declined from 9% to 1%, the

serious consequences for the overall profitability of the

proportion of labor employed in agriculture declined from

JA, as it is overly dependent on profits from the financial

26.6% to 4%, agriculture population from 11.96 million to

businesses to compensate for the deficits in other

2.52 million and the number of farming households from

agriculture-related operations.

6.06 million to 2.85 million. The number of commercial farm