Naju City Accepts Applications for 'Basic Public Interest Direct Payment' Until the 31st of Next Month

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 5th that it is accepting applications for the "Basic Public Interest Direct Payment," which integrates rice, field, and disadvantaged condition direct payments, until the 31st of next month.

Applications can be made by visiting the administrative welfare centers in the towns, townships, and neighborhoods where the farmland is located.

The Basic Public Interest Direct Payment has been restructured and promoted since last year by integrating the rice, field, and disadvantaged condition direct payments to shift from rice-centered agricultural policy and to stabilize income for small and medium-sized farms and improve fairness among farms.

The direct payments are divided into "Small-scale Farmer Direct Payment" and "Area-based Direct Payment."

The Small-scale Farmer Direct Payment provides an annual payment of 1.2 million KRW regardless of area if all household members meet certain conditions such as farming engagement period, rural residence period, non-agricultural income, and farmland ownership area.

The Area-based Direct Payment applies a regressive unit price ranging from 1 million to 2.5 million KRW per hectare, divided into three sections based on the application area (ha): "2 ha or less," "over 2 ha to 6 ha or less," and "over 6 ha."

Eligible applicants include agricultural corporations and farmers registered with agricultural management information who have received direct payments at least once between 2016 and 2019, full-time farmers, successor farm managers, farmers selected as full-time farmer development targets, and agricultural management entities qualified for new applications.

The farmland eligible for payment must be "farmland used for paddy rice agriculture from 1998 to 2000," "farmland used for agriculture in disadvantaged areas from 2003 to 2005," or "farmland used for field agriculture from 2012 to 2014 that has received direct payments at least once between 2017 and 2019."

However, those with "annual comprehensive income outside agriculture of 37 million KRW or more," "farmland area less than 1,000㎡," "reduction in direct payment application area compared to the previous year without justifiable reason," or "persons who have disposed of farmland or occupied farmland without permission" are excluded from eligibility.

Applications for direct payments must be made only for farmland actually cultivated by the applicant, excluding fallow areas where crops cannot be grown.

If cultivating leased farmland, a lease contract or equivalent document must be submitted.

In particular, applicants must comply with 17 obligations including adherence to chemical fertilizer usage standards, proper disposal of agricultural waste, and completion of public interest promotion education.

Violation of these obligations results in a 10% reduction of the total direct payment, and in cases of fraudulent receipt, additional collection up to five times the amount received, registration restrictions for up to eight years, and other penalties may be imposed.

For more details, contact the administrative welfare center in the town, township, or neighborhood where the farmland is located, or the Public Interest Direct Payment Consultation Call Center.

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