Chungbuk Accepts Applications for Eco-Friendly Agriculture Direct Payment Program Until the End of Next Month

[Asia Economy (Chungbuk) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungbuk Province announced on the 29th that it will accept applications for the Eco-friendly Agriculture Direct Payment Program until the end of next month.

The Eco-friendly Agriculture Direct Payment Program is promoted to encourage the spread of eco-friendly agriculture and enhance public functions such as agricultural environment conservation.

Eligible applicants include farmers certified for organic and pesticide-free agricultural products. Applications must be submitted to the township, town, or neighborhood office where the farmland is located by the 30th of next month, along with the application form for the Eco-friendly Agriculture Direct Payment Program and a copy of the eco-friendly agricultural product certification, among other required documents.

After receiving applications, from May to October, local governments and certification agencies will conduct compliance inspections to select qualified applicants and notify them. Selected farmers are expected to receive direct payments by the end of November.

Direct payments will be made for up to 0.1ha to 5.0ha per farm, paid for three years (three times) per plot starting from the first payment year. For plots with organic certification, additional payments can be made for two years (two times).

Furthermore, even after the maximum five-year (five times) support period for the Eco-friendly Agriculture Direct Payment Program ends, if organic farming continues, 50% of the organic direct payment (Organic Continuation Direct Payment) will be paid indefinitely.

The payment rates differ by certification level: for rice paddies, 350,000 to 700,000 KRW per hectare; for fields (orchards), 700,000 to 1,400,000 KRW; and for fields (vegetables, special crops, others), 650,000 to 1,300,000 KRW.

A provincial official stated, “We urge all eligible applicants to complete their applications within the application period to receive benefits. Conversely, if applications are made fraudulently or by other improper means, or if direct payments are received improperly, subsidies will be reclaimed and the individuals will be barred from applying for the Eco-friendly Agriculture Direct Payment Program for the next three years as a penalty.”

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