"Double Direct Payments for Planting Powdered Rice and Legumes"… Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to Accept Applications from Next Month 1

Starting this year, the strategic crop direct payment program will cover not only paddy soybeans but also all legumes (beans), including red beans, mung beans, peas, and cowpeas. The payment rates for powdered rice and legumes have also been doubled.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 29th that applications and registrations for the 2024 strategic crop direct payment program, including these changes, will begin on February 1.

The strategic crop direct payment program was first introduced last year to provide additional direct payments to farmers cultivating and managing "strategic crops" such as wheat and soybeans, which have high import dependency or can replace rice cultivation in paddy fields. Last year, 73,000 farmers participated, cultivating 125,000 hectares, and the target area for this year is 156,500 hectares.

This year, the payment targets for the strategic crop direct payment program have been expanded to include all legumes such as red beans, mung beans, peas, and cowpeas, in addition to paddy soybeans, and edible corn has been added as a new crop. Newly introduced edible corn will receive 1 million KRW per hectare.

Notably, the payment rate for cultivating legumes and powdered rice during the summer season (June to October) has been increased from 1 million KRW to 2 million KRW per hectare.

For 2024, applications for the strategic crop direct payment program can be submitted from February 1 to March 31 for winter crops, and until May 31 for summer crops. Applications can be made by visiting the town, township, or neighborhood offices (administrative welfare centers) in the area where the farmland is located. Once registered as a payment recipient, farmers will undergo compliance inspections by the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service and receive direct payments at the end of the year.

Jeon Han-young, Director of Food Policy, stated, "The strategic crop direct payment program has greatly contributed to stabilizing rice supply and increasing food self-sufficiency rates. By expanding the eligible crops and increasing payment rates, we expect it to help stabilize farm management, and we encourage active participation from farmers."

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