From 'Cheongnyeon Nongbu' to 'Dosi Euntweja'... Government Supports Customized Agricultural Jobs

Presentation of 2020 Work Plan in Presidential Briefing
Report on Dual-Track Job Support for 2040 and 5060 and Measures to Establish the Public Interest Direct Payment System

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Amid the recent surge in the number of people employed in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has unveiled generation-specific job creation plans to support urban retirees and young farmers. The ministry plans to implement a two-track customized job policy tailored to each demand, expanding education and services on one track and farmland and investment support on the other. Regarding the key issue of this year, the Public Interest Direct Payment System, the ministry has decided to provide approximately 1.2 million KRW annually to small-scale farms of 0.5 hectares (ha) or less.

On the 11th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the '2020 Work Plan' with these details during the presidential briefing. The briefing, themed 'Jobs,' was held jointly with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Environment.

In response to the sharp increase in the number of people employed in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries?the first in over 20 years since the 1998 IMF financial crisis?the ministry introduced a two-track customized support strategy for young people and retirees. The number of people employed in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries surged by 55,000 last year alone, continuing an upward trend for 31 consecutive months since the second half of 2017. This is due to increased return-to-farming and return-to-village movements following the retirement of the baby boomer generation (born 1955?1963, approximately 7.11 million people) and the expansion of employment capacity due to the scaling and corporatization of agriculture.

First, for the 20s to 40s age group, the supply of farmland for young farmers will be increased from 1,697 hectares (ha) last year to 2,240 ha this year through idle farmland development and leasing projects via the Farmland Bank. Additionally, 30 rental-type greenhouses and 6 smart farms will be established. The ministry will introduce in-depth startup consulting and expand technical training courses. Furthermore, new funds will be created to support management entities with potential and ideas: the 'Young Farmers Fund' (10 billion KRW) and the 'Stepping Stone Fund' (21.5 billion KRW). The Young Farmers Fund focuses on small investments of about 300 million KRW for management entities with technology and potential at the startup stage, while the Stepping Stone Fund concentrates on investments to support existing businesses in scaling up. Alongside this, to diversify export markets for popular agricultural products overseas such as strawberries and grapes, the ministry plans to support quality improvement and marketing. Next month, a pilot project will be launched targeting Central Asia and Mongolia, where export companies and logistics firms form consortia to jointly transport export volumes.

Employment Growth Rate in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Since 1995 (Unit: %)

In addition, the ministry will operate preparatory education and integrated information services for the 50s and 60s age group, who face difficulties in education and information acquisition before returning to farming. In 13 urban areas with high demand or without agricultural technology centers, urban agricultural cooperatives will offer courses on asset management, taxation, and finance. By next year, 104 complex living SOC centers will be established to support relatively lacking health, medical, care, and educational services compared to rural areas.

The ministry also mentioned the Public Interest Direct Payment System as a key task for this year, with detailed plans expected to be announced as early as the end of this month. The system is being discussed to expand support beyond rice to other crops and to enable small and medium-sized farms to secure stable income. The related budget was finalized at 2.4 trillion KRW during last year's National Assembly stage and is set for implementation this year.

Although detailed implementation plans are scheduled for announcement in February or March, a plan to provide 1.2 million KRW annually to small-scale farms of 0.5 ha or less regardless of cultivated area is being strongly considered. Payments will be made only to farmers who meet certain conditions such as rural residence and farming period of three years or more, and a certain limit on non-agricultural income. For other area-based direct payments, higher unit prices will be set for smaller cultivated areas, and the same unit prices will be applied to paddy and field promotion areas to improve rice overproduction and enhance food self-sufficiency.

Furthermore, the ministry plans to soon announce support measures for farms affected by the novel coronavirus infection. Minister Kim Hyun-soo of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained, "Agriculture is also facing difficulties due to impacts on dining out and the floriculture sector," adding, "We are devising countermeasures and are considering using contingency funds."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.