Naju City Joins Hands with 3 Companies to Revitalize Naju Rice Distribution

Published 21 Oct.2022 15:24(KST)

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City in Jeollanam-do has joined hands with Yeoju Nongsan Co., Ltd., Nonghyup Yanggok Co., Ltd., and Naju Nonghyup Rice Cooperative Joint Business Corporation to expand the sales of Naju rice in the Seoul metropolitan area.

On the 21st, the city announced that it signed an annual 20,000-ton scale "Naju Rice Distribution Activation Agreement" with about 30 officials including Mayor Yoon Byung-tae, Jeon Osu, CEO of Yeoju Nongsan Co., Ltd., and Na Byung-man, CEO of Nonghyup Yanggok Co., Ltd.

The supply contract volume under this agreement amounts to a total of 20,000 tons, equivalent to 1 million 20kg bags.

This corresponds to one-third (33.3%) of the total annual rice production of 60,000 tons harvested from the fertile Naju Plain in the Yeongsan River basin, and is twice the amount of the 2022 public stockpiled rice purchase volume.

It is expected to be a much-needed relief for local rice farmers who have faced difficulties securing sales channels due to the unprecedented largest price plunge in 45 years, supply-demand limitations caused by overproduction, and westernized eating habits.

Through this agreement, each organization will strengthen mutual cooperation to establish an administrative support system for activating Naju rice distribution, expand Naju rice purchases and sales, and promote the processing and sale of high-quality rice.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, "This is a historic and meaningful agreement that secures stable sales channels for Naju rice and promotes its excellent quality amid a situation where building a supply network was urgently needed due to decreased consumption and price collapse. We will continue to do our best to expand sales channels so that farmers can focus solely on farming without worrying about sales or prices."

Jeon Osu, CEO of Yeoju Nongsan Co., Ltd., said, "I am very pleased to contribute to the distribution of high-quality Naju rice. We will actively cooperate in the distribution of Naju rice to stabilize the income of farmers in the Naju area who are struggling due to the decline in rice consumption."