Jeonnam Province Goes All Out to Support Farmers Affected by COVID-19

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has launched multifaceted policy support measures to block the spread of infections in rural areas due to the spread of COVID-19, expand sales channels for agricultural products, and support the management stability of farmers.

According to the province on the 9th, all 15 livestock markets in the province will be closed until the end of COVID-19.

In addition, educational and cultural lectures at the Women Farmers Center, which are at risk of group infections, the eco-friendly agriculture advancement conference, advanced site tours, and village communal meals during the busy farming season have been postponed or suspended, and hygiene management has been strengthened at three agricultural product wholesale markets and 3,244 rural lodging businesses.

However, the Rural Workforce Support Center has postponed its closure to address the shortage of rural labor during the peak farming season, strengthening hygiene inspections and quarantine management to ensure timely farming operations.

Administrative efforts are also being fully mobilized to secure sales channels for agricultural products.

Since various events such as school graduation and entrance ceremonies were canceled, the province has operated the ‘1 Table 1 Flower Campaign’ and ‘Mobile Flower Market’ jointly with related organizations since last month to stabilize the management of flower farmers facing sales declines. As of the 6th, sales reached 118 million KRW, providing support to flower farmers.

For 50 tons of red cabbage produced in Haenam, whose export route to China has been blocked, an agreement was signed with E-Land Retail to sell it at 53 Kim’s Club stores nationwide, and discount events are being held in partnership with Kakao, WEMAKEPRICE, and Namdo Market.

Eco-friendly agricultural products, whose shipments were delayed due to school reopening postponements, will be sold through direct transactions at Nonghyup Hanaro Mart and local food stores, and will be listed on ‘Namdo Market’ to operate a special online promotional event.

To alleviate management burdens caused by falling prices of agricultural and livestock products, policies to stabilize farmers’ management will also be promoted.

The Jeonnam-type Public Interest Allowance for Farmers and Fishermen, the first of its kind nationwide supported by the province, was originally planned to be paid twice a year with 300,000 KRW each time, but the full amount of 600,000 KRW will be paid as local currency usable in cities and counties during the first half of the year.

The use of local currency is expected to stimulate the weakened consumption and revitalize local economies by invigorating neighborhood businesses and traditional markets.

Along with this, farmers and fishermen who have borrowed from the Rural Development Fund and are due to repay this year will have their principal and interest repayments deferred for one year, easing psychological burdens related to repayment.

In addition, to support farmers and fishermen facing increased difficulties due to falling agricultural and livestock product prices, the province has requested the government to extend repayment deadlines and reduce interest rates on government policy funds such as comprehensive agricultural funds, rural structure improvement funds, and various livestock-related loan projects.

In particular, just as small business owners received emergency management stabilization funds through special guarantees from the Credit Guarantee Foundation, the province has requested the establishment of grounds to support damaged farms such as flower farms under the special guarantee targets of the Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Credit Guarantee Fund, and also requested an increase in the special guarantee limit for feed purchase funds for farming households.

Kim Kyungho, Director of the Agriculture, Livestock and Food Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, “Thanks to the voluntary cooperation of farmers, there has not been a single confirmed case in rural areas of the province so far,” and added, “Let us continue to work together between the public and private sectors to wisely overcome these difficult times.”

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