Joint Proposal on 'Rice Supply and Price Stabilization Measures' by Democratic Party Jeonnam National Assembly Members
[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Democratic Party lawmaker So Byung-chul (Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, Gurye (Gap)) attended the ‘2022 Top 10 Brand Rice Metropolitan Area Promotion Awards Ceremony’ held yesterday at Nonghyup Hanaro Club Yangjae Branch, congratulated the award of the Suncheon city representative rice ‘Nanuuri’ with the Excellence Award, and emphasized the need to establish ‘rice supply and demand and rice price stabilization measures.’
Lawmaker So said, “Since 1981, per capita rice consumption has been continuously decreasing,” adding, “Last year, the annual per capita rice consumption was 56.9kg, which dropped to less than half compared to 116.3kg in 1991, 30 years ago.”
He also pointed out, “Rice prices should be maintained at least at 210,000 won, but now even the 180,000 won level has collapsed,” and “Farmers are working hard to produce, but they are not receiving proper prices for rice compared to their efforts.”
He continued, “Rice is not simply a staple food for Koreans but also the spiritual nourishment that forms Korean identity. We must promote rice-centered food culture and eating habits and stimulate rice consumption through the development of various rice processed products.”
On this day, Lawmaker So strongly urged the Democratic Party lawmakers from Jeonnam and the government to establish ‘rice supply and demand and rice price stabilization measures,’ representing the voices of farmers.
Through a joint petition, Lawmaker So criticized, “Last year, the rice market isolation system for price stabilization was implemented for the first time, but the timing of the market isolation decision was late, it was dispersed over three times, and the reverse auction method was promoted, which acted as a factor in lowering rice prices rather than stabilizing them, causing great betrayal to farmers.”
He also pointed out, “In a situation where the importance of food security is increasing due to the global supply chain crisis, the decline in rice prices is a critical issue that could collapse the food production base,” and urged, “The government must take responsibility and immediately take active measures such as market isolation to stabilize supply and demand.”
Lawmaker So ordered, “The government must never ignore the tears and sighs of farmers anymore,” and “The government should actively step up to stabilize rice prices so that farmers can focus on farming in a stable environment.”
Meanwhile, ‘Nanuuri,’ the representative brand rice of Suncheon city, achieved the great success of winning the Excellence Award for two consecutive years in this year’s Jeonnam Top 10 High-Quality Brand Rice evaluation.
This event was held in Seoul to vigorously promote the taste and quality of Jeonnam’s Top 10 brand rice to the metropolitan area this year.
In his congratulatory speech, Lawmaker So praised, “It is a proud and precious result achieved through the sweat of all, including Suncheon farmers, Kang Sung-chae, head of Suncheon Nonghyup, Kim Gu-hyun, director of Agricultural Food Distribution, and officials from the Suncheon Agricultural Technology Center.”
More than 20 hometown association members, including Kim Seok-jin, president of the Seoul Suncheon Hometown Association, and Park Seok-bong, secretary general, attended in large numbers, and the event was successfully held with reservations to purchase 200 bags of 4-kilogram Suncheon rice.
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