Assemblyman Seo Samsuk: "Despite Soaring Feed Costs, Domestic Forage Seed Distribution Remains Low"

IRG Forage Price Increase: Imported Up 69%, Domestic Up 43%

[Sinan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-kyung] As feed prices soar, increasing the burden on livestock farmers, criticism is rising over the lack of domestication of forage seed due to the low supply rate of domestic forage seeds and high dependence on imports.

Currently, domestic Italian Ryegrass (hereafter IRG) forage seeds are distributed by the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency.

According to data submitted by the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency to Representative Seo Sam-seok (Yeongam·Muan·Sinan) of the Democratic Party of Korea, IRG accounts for 61% of the total 1,146,000 tons of forage crops in South Korea.

In 2013, the proportion of IRG was similar to other crops, but by 2021, IRG's share had increased to more than 1.5 times that of other crops. While other forage crops increased by only 19%, domestic demand for IRG rose from 325,000 tons in 2013 to 645,000 tons in 2021, a 2.13-fold increase.

Not only has demand increased, but prices have also surged, increasing the burden on livestock farmers. IRG produced from domestic seeds rose by 43% this year compared to the previous year. Imported IRG prices increased by 69%, compounded by exchange rate burdens.

As of 2021, the supply rate of domestic IRG seeds is 23%, or 1,561 tons, whereas foreign varieties account for 5,231 tons, or 77%.

The process of securing seeds is also problematic. Due to a lack of appropriate equipment domestically, over 95% of seed multiplication is dependent on the United States. Domestic seeds are sent to the U.S. for three rounds of seed multiplication and then brought back.

Seeds harvested by domestic farms without proper equipment are known to suffer significant quality degradation because, due to the nature of the seeds that easily spoil if not dried within four hours after harvest, they deteriorate rapidly.

Representative Seo Sam-seok stated, “In light of unstable international circumstances, the supply performance of domestic IRG seeds is extremely poor,” and emphasized, “The Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency must actively improve the situation by establishing mid- to long-term plans for food self-sufficiency, including immediate solutions such as seed multiplication to expand supply.”

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