Jeonnam Province Supports 19,000 Farmers and Fishermen with 87.5 Billion Won for Tax-Free Fuel Purchases

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province announced on the 25th that it supported a total of 87.5 billion KRW from March to December last year to about 190,000 struggling farmers and fishermen due to a 47% increase in fuel costs compared to the beginning of 2022.

It is regarded as having led the nationwide expansion of the ‘Agricultural Duty-Free Fuel Purchase Support Project.’

In particular, by providing subsidies 1.6 to 2.5 times higher than other cities and provinces, it enabled farmers and fishermen to reduce production costs by about 7% to 15% compared to those in other regions, gaining high approval from the agricultural community.

Facility horticulture farmers in other cities and provinces received subsidies of up to 130 KRW per liter for duty-free fuel used from October to December last year.

However, the province additionally supported 213 KRW per liter from provincial funds for farmers, which is 1.6 times more than that, and provided fishermen with 288 KRW, 2.5 times more than the 112 KRW given to fishermen in other cities and provinces using duty-free diesel.

For example, Mr. A, who cultivates strawberries on an 1,800-pyeong scale in Daejeon-myeon, Damyang, said, “The heating cost to maintain the inside of the greenhouse used to be less than 1,000 KRW per liter, and 1.9 million KRW per month was enough, but recently it costs about 2.75 million KRW, which is 40 to 50% more.” He added, “Under difficult conditions such as falling agricultural product prices and drought, Jeonnam Province’s duty-free fuel support project has been very helpful.”

Mr. C, who catches anchovies with a 45-ton fishing vessel in Mokpo, said, “Since it is coastal fishing, the vessel is large, so management costs have always been a burden, but due to the Russia-Ukraine situation, fuel prices rose sharply, making it very difficult.” He added, “In this difficult situation, Jeonnam Province quickly supported the purchase cost of duty-free fuel, helping us overcome the hardship well.”

Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, said, “The agricultural duty-free fuel support project, which was first launched nationwide last year to help farmers and fishermen struggling with soaring fuel costs, has spread nationwide.” He added, “I hope that the support for duty-free fuel purchase costs will help smooth out the wrinkles of farmers and fishermen a little more.”

To receive support for agricultural duty-free fuel purchase costs used from November to December 2022, farmers (corporations) must visit their local agricultural cooperative and submit an application by February 10 of this year. The support amount per farm will be deposited into the payment account linked to the duty-free fuel purchase card.

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