Typhoon-Damaged Rice Purchase Starts from 21st... Grade A Priced at 71.8% Compared to Grade 1

Temporarily Classified into Three Grades: A, B, and C
Lowering Recall Criteria and Raising Damage Rate Standards

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 20th that it will purchase rice damaged by heavy rains and typhoons from the 21st of this month until the 30th of next month.

To purchase the damaged rice, the ministry analyzed and investigated 219 samples of damaged rice and, considering the milling rate and the distribution level of damaged grains, set three provisional out-of-grade categories A, B, and C, the same as last year, in addition to the existing public stock rice grades (special grade, first grade, second grade, third grade).

Analysis of this year’s typhoon-damaged rice samples showed that the milling rate decreased compared to last year, while the proportion of damaged grains was lower. Accordingly, to allow more farmers to participate in the purchase of damaged rice, the milling rate criteria were lowered and the damaged grain criteria were raised. ▲Provisional out-of-grade A grade is set at a milling rate of 56% or higher and damaged grains 20% or less ▲B grade is milling rate 50% or higher but less than 56%, damaged grains over 20% up to 30% ▲C grade is milling rate 40% or higher but less than 50%, damaged grains over 30% up to 40%. If the milling rate and damaged grain test results differ in grade according to the inspection criteria, the lower grade is applied.

The price of provisional out-of-grade rice is 71.8% of the first-grade price for A grade, 64.1% for B grade, and 51.3% for C grade. The final purchase price of provisional out-of-grade rice is determined by converting the harvest season (October to December) farm gate rice price (80kg) into the rice price (40kg), calculating the first-grade price, and then applying the price level for each provisional out-of-grade grade.

Regardless of grade, provisional out-of-grade rice will receive an interim settlement payment (20,000 KRW/30kg) immediately after purchase, and the remaining balance will be paid by the end of the year after the final purchase price is confirmed. Damaged rice will not be allocated by city or province; instead, the ministry will purchase the quantities desired by farmers and will buy regardless of variety (including glutinous rice). Colored rice such as black rice and green rice, as well as rice for processing, are excluded.

Damaged rice will be purchased as dried rice, packaged in ton bags (600kg) or sack bags (30kg), and the purchase date will be designated separately. Additionally, for the convenience of typhoon-affected farmers, not only sack bags (30kg, 600kg) but also cases where the Nonghyup Rice Processing Complex (RPC) purchases damaged rice from farmers in raw form, dries it, and packages it will be eligible for purchase.

Park Sujin, Director of Food Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "Through this purchase of typhoon-damaged rice, we expect to minimize losses for rice-producing farmers who suffered unexpected damage and to prevent the distribution of low-quality, low-priced rice in the market, thereby protecting consumers from harm."

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