Initiatives Against COVID-19：The Norinchukin Bank

A sharp decline of demand due to COVID-19 has greatly affected the management foundation of the AFF industries. As a member of JA Bank and JF Marine Bank, the Bank is working to provide smooth financing through a variety of support options to ensure sustainability of the AFF industries and to secure their stable management foundations.

Financial Support

The Bank provides support to customers affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 through our COVID-19 Emergency Fund. (The total amount of support provided was ¥2,740 million for 21 cases as of March 31, 2022.)

Fund Name	COVID-19 Emergency Fund
Eligible Recipients	Corporations operating in the AFF industries that have been directly or indirectly harmed by the spread of COVID-19
Funds Usage	Working capital, stopgap funds, etc.
Amount of Lending	Maximum ¥50 million
Ending Period	Maximum 1 year
Lending Interest Rate	Fixed rate

Note: Damage status and other circumstances could be checked separately. In addition, loans require a prescribed screening; loan requests might not be able to be fulfilled depending on the results of this screening. Please contact your nearest Norinchukin branch for details.

In addition, we provide support to agricultural corporations through equity investment to stabilize their finances. (The total amount of support provided was ¥28 million for three cases as of March 31, 2022.)

Eligible Recipients	Corporations operating in the AFF industries that have been directly or indirectly harmed by the spread of COVID-19
Maximum Investment	Amount ¥30 million (up to ¥100 million if conditions met)
Investment Period	Maximum 15 years
New Investment Deadline	January 2023
Consultation Locations	JA, Shinnoren, Norinchukin Bank

Notes: 1. In this scheme, Agribusiness Investment & Consultation Co., Ltd., established through joint investment from could Japan Finance Corporation and JA Group, invests in agricultural corporations that meet certain conditions. 2. Damage status and other circumstances could be checked separately. In addition, investments require a prescribed screening conducted by Agribusiness Investment & Consultation Co., Ltd.; investment requests might not be able to be fulfilled depending on the results of this screening. Please contact your nearest JA Bank for details.

Non-Financial Support

To maintain the local AFF industry infrastructure, we work with JA Group, JF Group, JForest Group and our members to provide support for producers, members and customers of these industries that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pocket Marche: Support for Direct Sales by Fishermen

Since June 2021, JF Saga Genkai has been offering support for direct sales of fishery products using one of Japan’s largest C-to-C direct selling applications “Pocket Marche.“ To solve such issues as a lack of workers against a backdrop of decreasing demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and declining catches and fish prices since before the pandemic, and increasing the income of fishermen, JF Saga Genkai had been seeking new distribution channels. Direct sales via Pocket Marche were realized upon a proposal of the Bank to JF Saga Genkai to collaborate with appears as one loord in the Valuesrot Co., Ltd., which operates the Pocket Marche application. A processing facility that was necessary to start direct sales was constructed using a subsidy from the Bank’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund.

Actions at JA Bank and JF Marine Bank

Within see annual report JA Bank (JA/Shinnoren/the Bank) and JF Marine Bank (JF/Shingyoren/the Bank), branches offer consultations about lending and other services for customers who have been affected by the spread of COVID-19. If customers are unable to find support at their usual branch, they are asked to use the contact information provided below.

JA Bank Disaster Consultation Line
JF Marine Bank Disaster Consultation Line