Gyeongnam Province and Agricultural Organizations Join Hands to Help Labor-Short Rural Villages

Foreign COVID-19 Cluster Outbreak in Changnyeong-gun, Supporting Local Farms

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Recently, due to a cluster of COVID-19 cases among foreigners, agricultural workers have become scarce during the busy farming season. To support this, over 200 employees from agricultural-related organizations in Gyeongnam Province have stepped up to help with garlic and onion farming in the Changnyeong-gun area.

On the 8th, staff from the Gyeongnam Provincial Agricultural Policy Bureau, Agricultural Technology Center, and related organizations assisted with the harvest of onions and garlic (1.8 hectares) at four vulnerable farms in Changnyeong-gun.

The province has established Rural Labor Assistance Promotion Centers in cities, counties, and the Nonghyup (National Agricultural Cooperative Federation) to connect volunteers willing to help with farms experiencing labor shortages.

When farms in need of labor apply to the Promotion Centers, they can be matched with volunteer groups, companies, and others willing to assist.

Organizations and companies wishing to help can contact the province, city/county offices, or Nonghyup to receive information about farms requiring labor assistance.

Lee Jeong-gon, Director of the Agricultural Policy Bureau, stated, "With the prolonged COVID-19 situation making it even harder to find workers, we ask institutions and organizations that have not yet participated to once again join in supporting rural labor assistance."