Muan-gun Recruiting Volunteers for Onion Harvesting Resources

Cooperation Needed Due to Labor Shortage in Onion Harvesting

Muan County will begin the main onion harvest from mid to late May and is extensively recruiting volunteers to assist with farm labor. (Photo by Muan County)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim San) announced on the 26th that although the onion harvest will officially begin in mid to late May, they anticipate a significant labor shortage due to COVID-19 and are conducting a large-scale recruitment of rural labor assistance volunteers from the 24th of this month until June 15th.

Muan-gun is the largest and top onion production area nationwide, but every onion harvest season, farmers face difficulties due to labor shortages and rising labor costs.

Especially this year, due to the departure of foreign workers caused by COVID-19 and social distancing measures, the labor shortage is expected to be more severe than in previous years.

Volunteers wishing to participate in rural labor assistance can apply by June 15th through the Agricultural Technology Center’s Agricultural Policy Division, the Eco-friendly Agriculture Division, the town and township offices, or the local agricultural cooperatives.

The rural labor assistance volunteer work is scheduled to take place for about a month from May 20th to June 20th, targeting farms with difficult farming conditions such as elderly farmers, women farmers, and disabled farmers.

Additionally, students participating in the volunteer work will be issued certificates of volunteer activity, and public officials will be credited with regular learning hours.

For prospective farmers hoping to return to farming, 50% of their volunteer hours, up to a maximum of 40 hours, will be recognized as education hours, and volunteers coming from outside the area will be given fresh onions and Hwangtorang rice as gifts.

A county official stated, “To overcome the labor shortage caused by the onion harvest, cooperation from many people including urban residents is necessary,” and added, “We ask for participation in volunteer work to support onion farming households facing difficulties.”

Meanwhile, since March, the county has formed and operated a T/F team for manpower supply during the busy farming season, and is striving to ensure efficient support by establishing an organic cooperation system with public institutions, organizations, military units, universities, and rural manpower support centers.

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