Governor Kim Young-rok Proposes Agricultural Policy Cooperation Project to NongHyup Central Association President

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, proposed an agricultural policy cooperation project to the President of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF).

According to Jeonnam Province on the 5th, Governor Kim held a meeting with Lee Seong-hee, President of NACF, to discuss the relocation of NACF and Nonghyup Bank to Jeonnam, joint response to stabilize rice prices, support for marketing subtropical fruits using NACF distribution networks, and support for the increased cost of compound feed for livestock farmers.

The meeting, the first since the launch of the 8th local government administration, was held at the NACF headquarters building in Seoul.

Attendees included NACF President Lee Seong-hee, directors Jang Seung-young and Go Pyeong-hoon, Chairman of the Audit Committee Park Tae-seon, executives Kim Seok-gi and Seo Ok-won, and Park Seo-hong, head of the Jeonnam regional headquarters, who shared various opinions from the agricultural field.

At the meeting, Governor Kim emphasized that Jeonnam is the largest agricultural production area in the country and a cluster region for public institutions in the agricultural life sector.

He proposed that through the relocation of NACF and related organizations to Jeonnam, national balanced development could be pursued, and Jeonnam could establish itself as a hub for Korea's agricultural life convergence industry, urging NACF to take a leading role.

Governor Kim stated, “If the NACF headquarters moves to Jeonnam, the southwestern region of Jeonnam centered on the Gwangju-Jeonnam Innovation City will be developed as the agricultural capital of Korea, creating synergy effects such as preventing local extinction and promoting national balanced development. Although the relocation of institutions should be reviewed at the national level, I hope NACF will take a leading role in regional balanced development for the advancement of domestic agriculture.”

He also requested that NACF purchase its own rice stock at a level equal to or higher than last year during the harvest season to sufficiently support rice prices by buying at prices above the market price, and that the central federation do its best with local cooperatives.

He said, “Although the government recently isolated 450,000 tons of rice from the market, more permanent measures are required to stabilize rice prices. I hope NACF will actively consider purchasing rice at prices above the market price.”

He added, “The expansion of the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Fund contribution proposed by NACF is ultimately for the benefit of farmers, so the province will actively propose this together with local lawmakers.”

He also proposed joint projects such as supporting the marketing of Jeonnam-grown subtropical fruits using NACF distribution networks and supporting the difference in increased compound feed prices for livestock farmers due to recent feed price hikes.

President Lee Seong-hee said, “We will thoroughly review the relocation of NACF considering all conditions.”

He also stated, “To stabilize rice prices, we plan to purchase NACF’s own stock at last year’s level, provide additional support to non-cooperative Rice Processing Complexes (RPCs), and extend repayment periods for rice purchase funds. Since subtropical fruits are increasingly popular among consumers, we will promote them more actively. Regarding support for the increased cost of compound feed, we will jointly propose this to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs with Jeonnam Province.”

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