Gyeongnam Provincial Council Adopts Government Proposal Urging Measures to Address Rice Price Collapse

Assemblyman Jo Young-je: "Farmers have sacrificed a lot due to government policies; they must be supported to make a living"

Assemblyman Jo Young-je of Gyeongnam Provincial Council.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Song Jong-gu] Amid nationwide rice price collapse causing farmers to wear distressed expressions, the Gyeongnam Provincial Council adopted the "Government Recommendation to Urge Measures to Address the Rice Price Collapse" proposed by Assemblyman Jo Young-je.

This recommendation urges the government to take measures as farmers' livelihoods are threatened due to soaring production costs such as agricultural materials, pesticides, and fuel prices, while only rice prices have plummeted.

The main points include ▲ urging the government to implement preemptive market isolation measures before the harvest season and ▲ calling for realistic rice supply and demand stabilization measures that can fundamentally resolve the recurring rice price issues every year.

The primary reason for the rice price decline is that consumption has decreased while production has significantly increased. Ten years ago, in 2012, the per capita rice consumption was 69.8 kg, but last year it dropped by 18.5% to 56.9 kg, and it is expected to decrease further to 54.1 kg this year. In any case, farmers growing rice are being pushed into a situation where even making a living is uncertain.

Earlier, on the 25th, the government announced an emergency "Rice Price Stabilization Plan," stating it would spend 1 trillion won to purchase 450,000 tons of rice. The plan is to buy this year's newly harvested rice from October to December and last year's stored rice to isolate them from the market, thereby preventing further rice price collapse. The government believes the volume of rice to be handled this time will be sufficient to change the market sentiment.

Assemblyman Jo said, "Farmers are bearing many sacrifices in national policies. However, shouldn't they at least be able to make a living?" and added, "A country where farmers live well is a truly advanced country."