Jeonnam Province Reduces Rice Cultivation Area and Drives Up Rice Prices

Reduced by 5,295 Hectares from Last Year
Largest Decrease Among All Provinces Nationwide
Achievements in Actively Promoting Alternative Crops
Expected to Receive Additional Points in Government Projects

Jeollanam-do Province induced an increase in mountain rice prices this year by reducing the largest area among all regions nationwide. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Jeonnam Province announced on the 16th that the region's rice cultivation area this year stands at 142,443 hectares, a decrease of 5,295 hectares compared to the previous year (147,738 hectares). This marks the largest reduction among all provinces nationwide and has driven an increase in mountain rice prices.

According to the 2025 rice cultivation area survey released by the National Data Office, the scale of rice cultivation area reduction by region is as follows: Jeonnam 5,295 hectares, Chungnam 4,515 hectares, Jeonbuk 3,629 hectares, Gyeongbuk 2,723 hectares, and Gyeongnam 2,254 hectares, with Jeonnam ranking first nationwide.

Nationwide, the rice cultivation area decreased by about 2.9%, or 20,199 hectares. In Jeonnam, the reduction rate was 3.6%, the largest among the eight provinces, setting a national record both in terms of reduction rate and area. This is considered a major factor behind the rise in rice prices this year through optimal rice production. It is the result of Jeonnam Province's efforts to reduce rice cultivation area.

The government implemented a large-scale "rice cultivation area adjustment program" this year, aiming to reduce the national rice cultivation area by 80,000 hectares to stabilize rice prices.

In response, Jeonnam Province focused on fostering alternative crops such as soybeans for paddy fields, powder rice, and forage crops instead of rice, thereby maintaining farmers' income and the total area of farmland while reducing the rice cultivation area.

In particular, Jeonnam Province promoted various policies to ensure stable farming for farmers converting to alternative crops in paddy fields, including support for the purchase of 67 rental agricultural machines for alternative crops in paddy fields (1.7 billion won), support for alternative crop cultivation in paddy fields (1,500 hectares, 3 billion won), forage crop cultivation complexes (200 hectares, 200 million won), and the establishment of specialized soybean complexes for paddy fields (8 locations, 2.1 billion won).

As a result, as of the 5th of this month, the mountain rice price recorded 227,816 won per 80kg, which is 45,116 won higher than the previous year's 182,700 won.

Shin Jeongok, President of the Jeonnam Branch of the Korea Rice Farmers Association, said, "Thanks to the efforts of the government and Jeonnam Province, rice prices have risen for the first time in a while, raising farmers' expectations. Since the rice price at harvest is the reward for a year of farming, I hope the price is set well this year."

Yu Deokgyu, Director of the Food and Horticulture Division of Jeonnam Province, stated, "The main contributors to the rise in rice prices are the farmers who have spent their lives cultivating rice but have now switched to soybeans and forage crops. We will prepare various support measures so that both rice farmers and alternative crop farmers in paddy fields can achieve a win-win outcome."

Having reduced the largest rice cultivation area nationwide, Jeonnam Province is expected to receive additional points in 2026 for government public rice reserve incentives, RPC rice purchase funds, and competitive projects for high-quality rice distribution activation.

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