O Do-chang, Yeongyang County Governor, Receives 'Regional Agricultural Development Leading Award'

Contributions to Enhancing Farmers' Benefits and Promoting Rural Development

O Do-chang, Governor of Yeongyang County, Gyeongbuk, received the ‘2023 Regional Agricultural Development Leading Figure Award’ on November 15, 2023, at the main auditorium of the Nonghyup Central Association headquarters for his contributions to enhancing farmers' practical benefits and rural development.

Odoh Chang, Governor of Yeongyang County, who received the 2023 Regional Agricultural Development Leading Person Award (right).

The ‘Regional Agricultural Development Leading Figure Award’ was established in 2003 and is given to public officials who have contributed to improving regional agricultural structures, strengthening the competitiveness of agricultural production and distribution, and increasing farm household incomes. The award is organized by Nonghyup Bank.

Governor O Do-chang was the only recipient in Gyeongbuk Province, having accurately understood the regional characteristics and the pressing issues of Yeongyang County, and showing great interest in overcoming rural crises and promoting development.

He set the main agricultural policy of the county as “A Prosperous and Livable Rural Community” and, from the 7th to the 8th elected term, laid the foundation for agriculture to leap forward as a future regional industry through a major structural transformation of agriculture. He also prepared for farm management risks such as labor shortages and disasters by implementing the nation’s first foreign seasonal worker inflow and establishing agricultural work delegation teams.

Additionally, efforts have been made to ensure a stable farming environment and enhance agricultural competitiveness by purchasing red chili peppers at the highest nationwide prices, increasing agricultural subsidy support rates by 70%, enrolling in safety insurance, and providing interest support for agricultural loans to boost farm household incomes.

In particular, the agricultural work delegation teams, in cooperation with Nonghyup, carry out agricultural machinery tasks such as covering and tilling, improving land use efficiency and farming convenience, which has received great support from county residents and has been highly evaluated as a nationwide first case.

Governor O Do-chang expressed, “I am pleased that our efforts to develop agriculture and rural areas have been recognized, and I am grateful to the residents of the county. Going forward, we will closely promote various cooperative projects with Nonghyup so that Yeongyang County farmers can focus solely on production.”

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