Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the ninth meeting of the Headquarters on Creating Dynamism through Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Industries and Local Communities at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, discussion took place on "discussions held by the Industrial Competitiveness Council related to the review of the agricultural management and income stabilization measures and the system of production adjustment," "discussions held by the Regulatory Reform Council related to matters such as the direction of agriculture reform," and "the direction for the reform of agricultural policies needed for 'agriculture, forestry and fisheries on the offensive.'"

Based on the discussions, the Prime Minister said,

"The Abe Cabinet is determined to make an all-out effort to turn the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries into attractive industries for young people and, simultaneously, protect Japan's rural areas and furusato (hometowns).
To that end, we need to build an environment in which those in the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries can work with a business management mindset, continue to work toward the structural reform of agriculture to turn it into a growth industry, and connect these efforts to increasing the incomes of the agricultural industry and agricultural areas.
I want the Abe Cabinet to move forward with a grand reform of agricultural policy in line with the direction we have set today, under the leadership of Minister Hayashi.
Specifically, we will fundamentally review management and income stabilization measures, and eliminate policies that counteract structural reforms such as the direct payment of rice subsidies.
In addition, we will review the system of production adjustment, which has existed for more than 40 years, and realize an agricultural industry in which farmers can grow the crops they want to, in line with their own management decisions. We will also promote the production of crops directly tied to food security, such as wheat, beans, and feed-use rice.
Furthermore, we will create a Japanese-style direct payment system. In doing so, we will support farmers in expanding the scale of their operations and protect our beautiful furusato.
I hope to establish a plan to create vitality for the industry and regional communities within this year and confidently set forth a grand design for the reform of agricultural policies."