Article 1.　The purpose of this Law is to promote agricultural productivity by providing promptly the basic conditions required for increasing agricultural production in the economically handicapped snow-bound and cold-climate single-crop zone and thereby to stabilize agricultural economy and improve the living of the farming population with a view to making contribution toward the development of our national economy.

Article 2.　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry shall, with the resolution of the Snow-bound and Cold-climate Single-crop Zone Development Measures Council, designate as the snow-bound and cold-climate single-crop zone such areas of Do, Fu or prefecture as are inferior in the rate of utilization of agricultural lands and in agricultural productivity, due to heavy snow fall and severe cold.

2　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry shall, when the designation in the preceding paragraph has been made, give public notice to that effect.

3　The governor of Do, Fu or prefecture shall, on receipt of the designation mentioned in paragraph 1, designate as the snow-bound and cold-climate single-crop district, in conformity with the standard laid down by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry with the resolution of the Snow-bound and Cold-climate Single-crop Zone Development Measures Council, such areas of city, town or village as are inferior in the rate of utilization of agricultural land and in agricultural productivity, due to heavy snow fall and severe cold.

4　The governor of Do, Fu or prefecture shall, when the designation in the preceding paragraph has been made, give public notice to that effect and at the same time report it to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

Article 3.　The mayor of city, town or village, who has jurisdiction over the snow-bound and cold-climate single-crop district, shall draw up an agricultural development program in the said district and present it to the governor of Do, Fu or prefecture concerned, and shall at the same time give public notice on the main features thereof.

2　The mayor of city, town or village shall, in deciding on an agricultural development program as provided for in the preceding paragraph, hold public hearing beforehand to have the opinions of the interested parties and shall obtain the approval of the local assembly.

Article 4.　The governor of Do, Fu or prefecture shall, taking into consideration the agricultural development program mentioned in paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, decide upon an agricultural development program of Do, Fu or prefecture concerned with respect to snow-bound and cold-climate single-crop district and present it to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and shall at the same time give public notice on the main features thereof.

2　When the governor of Do, Fu or prefecture decides upon the agricultural development program in accordance with the provision of the preceding paragraph, the provision of paragraph 2 of the preceding Article shall apply with necessary modifications.

Article 5.　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry shall, taking into consideration the agricultural development program mentioned in paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, decide on an agricultural development program of the State with respect to snow-bound and cold-climate single-crop zone, with the resolution of the Snow-bound and Cold Climate Single-crop Zone Development Measures Council.

2　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry shall, when he has decided upon an agricultural development program in accordance with the provision of the preceding paragraph, notify it to the governor of Do, Fu or prefecture concerned and at the same time give public notice on the main features thereof.

3　The National Government shall appropriate in the Budget every fiscal year such expenses as are necessary for implementing the agricultural development program as mentioned in paragraph 1, within the scope permitted under the national finance.

4　The National Government shall decide on a program every fiscal year for accommodation of such funds as are necessary for implementing the agricultural development program as mentioned in paragraph 1, or for extending good offices to raise them and give public notice on the main features thereof.

Article 6.　The governor of Do, Fu or prefecture shall, on receipt of the notice as mentioned in paragraph 2 of the preceding Article, notify the mayor of city, town or village concerned of the agricultural development program of Do, Fu or prefecture concerned as decided upon in accordance with the provision of Article 4 paragraph 1, with or without change as the case may dictate, and shall at the same time, in case of any change, give public notice on the main points of such change.

2　In case the governor of Do, Fu or prefecture changes the agricultural development program in accordance with the provision of the preceding paragraph, the provision of Article 3 paragraph 2 shall apply with necessary modifications.

Article 7.　The mayor of city, town or village may, when he deems it necessary on receipt of the notice as mentioned in paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, change the agricultural development program of the city, town or village concerned as decided upon in accordance with the provision of Article 3 paragraph 1. In this case, a public notice shall be given on the main points of the change.

2　When the mayor of city, town or village makes any change in the agricultural development program in accordance with the provision of the preceding paragraph, the provision of Article 3 paragraph 2 shall apply with necessary modifications.

Article 8.　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, the governor of Do, Fu or prefecture or the mayor of city, town or village may, in cases where sharp changes have occurred in the situation on the basis of which the agricultural development program of the State, Do, Fu or prefecture concerned or the city, town or village concerned was decided upon, alter the agricultural development program decided upon by him, respectively through the procedures similar to those to be followed in formulating the said program.

Article 9.　An agricultural development program shall include the following matters:

Article 10.　Except for such matters as are provided for in Articles 3 to 9 inclusive, necessary matters for the determining of agricultural development programs shall be prescribed by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Ordinance.

Article 11.　Of the provisions of this Law, those pertaining to town and village or mayors thereof shall, in the place where a general business association or a rural government business office exists, apply to the association or the controller thereof.

Article 12.　The Snow-bound and Cold-climate Single-crop Zone Development Measures Council (hereinafter referred to as "the Council" ) shall be established in the Prime Minister's Office to make investigation and deliberation upon matters placed under its powers by this Law and also important matters pertaining to promotion of agricultural communities in the snow-bound and cold-climate single-crop zone.

2　The Council may submit its opinion to the chiefs of the administrative organs concerned on such important matters as are related to the promotion of agricultural communities in the snow-bound and cold-climate single-crop zone.

Article 13.　The Council shall be composed of members, not more than 30 in number, to be appointed by the Prime Minister from among the following:

2　The term of office of the members appointed under items (1), (2) and (14) to (18) inclusive of the preceding paragraph shall be two years. However, the term of office of a member appointed to fill a vacancy shall be the remainder of the term of the predecessor's.

3　The Council shall have a Chairman, who shall be elected by mutual voting of members.

4　The Chairman shall preside over the affairs of the Council.

5　The Council shall designate beforehand a member, who will act for the Chairman when he is unable to perform his duties owing to inevitable circumstances, from among members.

6　The Council may have expert members to make investigation and deliberation on specialized matters.

7　The expert members shall be appointed by the Prime Minister, at the recommendation of the Council, from among the personnel of the administrative organs concerned or persons of learning and experience.

8　The members and the expert members of the Council shall be of part-time service.

9　Necessary matters relating to the organ which takes charge of the council affairs and to the proceedings and management of the Council, excepting those prescribed in the preceding paragraph, shall be provided for by Cabinet Order.