Seoul Provides Pregnant Women with Eco-Friendly Agricultural Product Packages Worth 480,000 KRW Annually

Applications open from 10 AM on the 6th... First-come, first-served by district
Expectations for healthy food provision + securing sales channels for farmers

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 1st that it will launch the "Eco-friendly Agricultural Products Package Support Pilot Project for Pregnant Women," providing eco-friendly agricultural product packages worth up to 480,000 KRW over 12 months (including a personal payment of 96,000 KRW) to pregnant women.

The packages consist of fresh agricultural products certified as eco-friendly, livestock products (some), and processed foods. The support targets 18,230 mothers who have registered the birth of their child after January 1 this year and currently pregnant women. However, those eligible for similar programs such as the Nutrition Plus Project and Geumcheon-gu Pregnant Women Eco-friendly Food Support Project are restricted from receiving duplicate support, and applications may close on a first-come, first-served basis by district.

The city will start accepting applications from the 6th of this month and initially supply agricultural product packages worth 240,000 KRW, usable until the end of the year. An additional 240,000 KRW package will be supplied only to residents of districts continuing the project next year, providing a total package worth 480,000 KRW.

This project is a pilot program selected through the National Participation Budget by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in 2020 and is being conducted by a total of 26 local governments nationwide.

The packages can be purchased from designated online malls and delivered to the desired location. There are three types of package products operated: a selective type where pregnant women add needed items to the shopping cart and order directly, a completed type composed according to price range and items, and a program type where 3 to 12 months of deliveries can be applied for regularly. Up to two purchases per month are allowed, with a minimum purchase of 30,000 KRW and a maximum of 60,000 KRW per order, and 20% of the order amount must be paid by the individual.

The city is currently selecting suppliers to operate the online mall and plans to start package ordering and delivery within this month.

To order the eco-friendly agricultural product packages for pregnant women, a prior application process is required. From 10 a.m. on the 6th, applicants must submit a resident registration certificate and pregnancy or childbirth verification documents issued by a medical institution through the online application section of the Seoul Farmer Portal (https://cityfarmer.seoul.go.kr). Once confirmed as eligible by the district office of the registered address, packages can be purchased from the designated online mall.

Detailed information can be found on the city’s official website and the Seoul Farmer Portal (Urban Agriculture), and inquiries can be made to the Seoul Urban Agriculture Division, district offices, or the Dasan Call Center (02-120).

Kim Ui-seung, Director of Seoul’s Economic Policy Office, said, "This project provides healthy food to pregnant women and stable market opportunities to farmers. We will strive to manage quality so that it leads to continuous consumption of eco-friendly agricultural products."