Direct Trade of Nonghyup RPC Brand Rice: 10kg per Person, 1 Bag, 5 Units
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] “We hope to lighten the burden carried by rice farming households and also provide some support for the management stability of the Nonghyup Rice Processing Complex (RPC).”
Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, said this in a letter to encourage participation in the ‘Buy Gyeongnam Rice Campaign.’
Gyeongnam Province is launching the Buy Gyeongnam Rice Campaign to protect the rice industry and stabilize the management of rice farmers amid falling rice prices.
Starting with provincial government officials, each person orders one 10kg bag of rice, and the campaign proceeds with voluntary participation from public officials, public institutions, and related organizations and groups within the province.
The ordered rice will be delivered through direct transactions at the provincial government headquarters and the Western Government Complex on September 6, before the Chuseok holiday.
According to Gyeongnam Province on the 31st, based on the Statistics Korea announcement on the 15th, when converted to 80kg, the farm gate price of rice was 170,088 KRW, a 25% decrease of 57,124 KRW from last year’s highest price of 227,212 KRW.
A provincial official said, “Facing this year’s new rice harvest season, the concerns of rice farmers and Nonghyup RPCs that are purchasing and storing market-isolated rice are deepening.”
The province explained that due to the oversupply of 2021 rice, it purchased market-isolated rice to support rice prices and selected brand rice from five Nonghyup RPCs with large inventories: Sancheong-gun Nonghyup, Changwon City Integrated RPC, Goseong Geoje Tongyeong Integrated RPC, Hapcheon-gun Nonghyup Federation RPC, and Sacheon City Nonghyup Federation RPC.
They have completed price negotiations to supply rice cheaper than market prices by eliminating distribution margins and trading directly with consumers.
An official said, “Nonghyup RPCs are in urgent need to secure storage space to purchase new rice,” adding, “There is a very welcoming atmosphere toward the province’s Buy Rice Campaign.”
A letter from Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, for participation in the 'Buy Gyeongnam Rice Campaign'.
Governor Park Wan-su said in the letter, “The importance of rice is well understood without mention amid the worst-ever European drought and chaotic international situation,” adding, “Rice paddies are spaces for rice production and have many public functions such as flood control, water and air purification, and cooling effects that help prevent global warming.”
He continued, “If the foundation of the food industry collapses due to falling rice prices and the area of rice paddies decreases, we will have to pay a much greater opportunity cost,” encouraging participation.
Jung Yeonsang, Director of the Provincial Agricultural Policy Bureau, said, “Apart from the provincial government, we hope that basic local governments, invested and funded institutions, public institutions, companies, and organizations within the province will also join and cooperate in spreading the Buy Rice Campaign in forms such as helping neighbors in need, self-consumption, and holiday gifts.”
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