Jang Man-chae, Suncheon Mayor Preliminary Candidate, Says Excess Rice Supply Must Be Isolated from Market

Despite Global Grain Price Surge, Rice Prices Remain Below 200,000 Won per Gama

Severe Agricultural Management Difficulties Due to COVID-19 - Government Needs Swift Action

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Jang Man-chae, a preliminary candidate for Suncheon mayor, strongly urged on the 6th, "The government must promptly isolate the excess rice supply from the market."

According to Suncheon Nonghyup on the day, despite the rising global grain prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the recent price of rice in production areas fell to around 196,000 won (per 80kg).

Therefore, it is necessary to promptly isolate the excess production from last year and the stockpiled rice in production areas from the market.

Farmers claim, "Although about 270,000 tons of rice were overproduced last year, the government only planned to isolate 200,000 tons, and the timing was delayed until the end of December, so the rice price rebound did not occur."

In response, candidate Jang said, "If the rice price falls below 200,000 won, it will be difficult to even cover production costs, and farmers will inevitably suffer significant damage," adding, "With the farming season approaching, urgent isolation measures for excess supply must be taken to prevent the decline in rice prices."

Candidate Jang expressed concern, saying, "Currently, the stock of rice in production areas is about 500,000 tons more than last year, and because of this, the price per bag has dropped by about 17,000 won compared to last year's harvest season," and "With the consumption of other crops besides rice sharply decreasing due to COVID-19, if rice prices fall like this, the agricultural foundation could collapse."

Candidate Jang served as president of Suncheon University and as the 16th and 17th Jeonnam Superintendent of Education. During the last presidential election, he served as co-chairman of the Jeonnam joint campaign committee for candidate Lee Jae-myung, head of the Jeonnam special advisory group, and standing chairman of the Balanced Growth Committee.

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