Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended the ceremony of the 26th JA National Congress held in Tokyo.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"The agricultural villages of Japan are a reservoir of resources with abundant fertile farmlands and water. Above all, there are people with wisdom, skills and enthusiasm who are engaged in farming with pride throughout Japan.
I am one of those who are strongly impressed with these people, meeting them after taking office as Prime Minister. In addition, the food culture of Japan and Japanese cuisine have strong appeal worldwide. Thus, agriculture backed with natural and human resources and strong appeal has a large potential to become a growing industry in the 21st century.
From such perspective, our Cabinet decided the Basic Policy and Action Plan for the Revival of the Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery Industries last October, and is currently developing measures intensively such as the promotion of establishment as a "sixth industry."
In the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan, which was decided in January this year, agriculture, forestry and fisheries are specified as one of the four prioritized areas towards the revival of Japan. From now on, we will allocate policy budgets with clear priority, and commit ourselves firmly in the effort to revive agriculture and to revitalize regional community."