"'COVID-19' Agricultural Damage Support Budget Must Be Included in the 3rd Supplementary Budget... Unified Voice from the Agricultural Sector"

On the 7th, in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, 'Farmers Rally Urging COVID-19 Agricultural Damage Countermeasures'
Jeonnongyeon "Establish Agricultural Product Price Guarantee System... Need Measures for Cold Damage and COVID-19"

On the 7th, participants held placards at the "Establishment of Agricultural Product Price Guarantee System! Compensation for Cold Damage! COVID-19 Countermeasures!" National Farmers' Rally held near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Amid the surge in damage to the agricultural sector due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), farmers have come forward to urge the government to establish clear countermeasures.

The National Farmers' Federation held a "Farmers' Rally to Urge COVID-19 Agricultural Damage Countermeasures" at 2 p.m. on the 7th in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, demanding "the establishment of a price guarantee system for agricultural products and measures to address cold damage and COVID-19."

About 300 agricultural workers from across the country gathered at the rally, according to the organizers.

The main demands of the National Farmers' Federation include ▲supplementing the second garlic countermeasure ▲government purchase based on measures for imported onions and forecasts of consumption decline ▲operation of a public-private joint task force to establish a fundamental price guarantee system ▲preparation of countermeasures for cold damage and introduction of the Natural Disaster Compensation Act ▲and preparation of agricultural measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the day, the farmers stated, "Since last winter until now, farmers have been struggling to breathe properly due to COVID-19," and "Despite signs of another drop in agricultural product prices, the government has only presented showy measures and is self-congratulating."

On the 7th, participants are shouting slogans at the "Establishment of Agricultural Product Price Guarantee System! Compensation for Cold Damage! COVID-19 Countermeasures!" National Farmers' Rally held near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

They continued, "This spring, cold damage struck, causing extreme harm to fruit farms, yet instead of establishing countermeasures, the government reduced the Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Insurance Fund and included it in the second supplementary budget," adding, "Although Korea's grain self-sufficiency rate is about 23%, the lowest among OECD countries, the government shows no interest in agricultural policy reforms to sustain agriculture."

Recently, damage to the agricultural sector due to COVID-19 has been increasing. With sluggish dining-out consumption and the suspension of school meals due to the delayed opening of elementary, middle, and high schools, the consumption of domestic agricultural and livestock products has sharply contracted. As a result, many farms are facing difficulties, and with the postponement of foreign seasonal workers' entry, labor shortages are worsening ahead of the peak farming season.

Lee Moo-jin, Policy Committee Chairman of the National Farmers' Federation, emphasized, "The risks of infectious disease spread like COVID-19 and climate change are becoming increasingly threatening, but the government's awareness remains inadequate," adding, "The decision to proceed with the farmers' rally despite the risk of COVID-19 infection was to demand the government's role in enhancing the sustainability of agriculture."

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