Gochang-gun Promotes 'Appropriate Rice Production' Measures to Stabilize Rice Prices

Published 05 Mar.2024 09:51(KST)

Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk announced on the 5th that it will implement a "Rice Appropriate Production" policy to respond to rice overproduction and stabilize rice prices.

The county's target for reducing rice paddy cultivation area this year is 381 hectares, and it will accept applications for rice paddy area reduction agreements, strategic crop direct payments, and paddy field non-rice crop production incentives until the end of May.

Gochang County Office. [Photo by Gochang County]

The target fields are those where rice was cultivated last year and where farmers intend to cultivate other crops or leave the fields fallow this year.

Fields that participated in last year's strategic direct payment or reduction agreement and continue to cultivate other crops or leave the fields fallow can also apply.

Types of other crops include general crops, legumes such as soybeans, and summer forage crops. After a full inspection in June and July to check whether rice is cultivated on the fields participating in the reduction agreement, the implementation area of the agreement will be finalized.

Farmers who comply with the cultivation area reduction will receive strategic crop direct payments or paddy field non-rice crop production incentives depending on the reduced area and crop type. Additionally, 150 to 300 bags (based on 40 kg per bag) of public reserve rice per hectare will be allocated.

Applications can be submitted by visiting the administrative welfare centers in the towns and townships where the farmland is located and submitting the reduction agreement application form. There is no limit on the application area, but to receive the allocation of public reserve rice, a minimum area corresponding to at least one bag is required.

Shim Deok-seop, the mayor of Gochang-gun, said, "Reducing rice paddy cultivation area is essential for stabilizing rice supply and prices," and added, "We hope many farmers and agricultural corporations actively participate in the projects and reduction agreements for appropriate rice production."