Assemblyman Kim Seung-nam Calls for Drastic Measures to 'Secure Stable Farm Income'

Agricultural Income Stagnant at 10.3 Million Won Over 25 Years from 1994 to 2019

Government Disaster Relief and Subsidies Surpass Agricultural Income

Innovative Solutions Like Solar Farming Needed to Maintain Stable Farm Income

[Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Kim Seung-nam, a member of the National Assembly (Jeonnam Goheung·Boseong·Jangheung·Gangjin), called for drastic measures to improve stagnant agricultural income and farm household income during the 25 years at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' audit held the day before.

According to agricultural income data submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to Assemblyman Kim Seung-nam, agricultural income has remained stagnant over 25 years, from 10.32 million won in 1994 to 10.26 million won in 2019.

The income gap between urban and rural areas is increasing day by day, and since 2019, transfer income such as government disaster relief funds, farmers' allowances, and subsidies has exceeded agricultural income.

Looking at major policies related to increasing agricultural income, the focus was more on maintaining the status quo, such as stabilizing agricultural product supply and demand, management stabilization, and expanding disaster insurance, rather than on substantial improvement of agricultural income.

Rather, transfer income such as disaster relief funds, farmers' allowances, and subsidies, which can be temporary support (14.26 million won), exceeded agricultural income (11.82 million won), so farm household income appears to have increased, but excluding the increase in transfer income, farm household income has been stagnant for three years.

Accordingly, Assemblyman Kim Seung-nam proposed the technology of solar farming as a measure to stabilize farm household income.

Solar farming is a new agricultural technology that combines farming and solar power generation, expected to contribute to increasing farm household income by improving income outside agriculture.

Assemblyman Kim said, “As agricultural income has stagnated for 25 years, non-agricultural income has become the main source of income for farm households,” and added, “The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs should actively support the development and application of new technologies such as solar farming that will improve and maintain farm household income.”

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