Gwangju City to Provide Allowances to Farmers... First Among Metropolitan Cities Nationwide

Passage of the 'Farmers' Public Interest Allowance Payment Ordinance' Pledge in the 8th Elected Term

Over 8,000 Households Benefit... 600,000 KRW in Local Gift Certificates Paid Annually per Household

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kang Ki-jung) announced that the "Farmer Public Interest Allowance Payment Ordinance," a representative pledge project of the 8th local government, passed the city council plenary session on the 6th.

This ordinance includes provisions to pay allowances to farmers in the Gwangju area to promote the public interest value of agriculture and create a sustainable agricultural environment.

Gwangju is the first among metropolitan cities nationwide to recognize public interest value and pay allowances to farmers.

The support targets are households with an address in Gwangju for at least one year before the application year and who received the basic public direct payment in the previous year, as well as heads of agricultural management entities who have been raising livestock or insects for more than one year.

The city expects about 8,000 beneficiary households, and the support amount will be paid as regional gift certificates of 600,000 KRW per household annually.

With the basis for farmer allowance support established, Gwangju plans to secure project funds in the supplementary budget in March and pay the allowance in the second half of this year. The funding will be borne 80% by Gwangju City and 20% by autonomous districts.

To enact the ordinance, Gwangju formed the "Discussion Committee for the Introduction of Farmer Allowance in Gwangju Metropolitan City," consisting of 11 members including representatives of farmer organizations, city council members, and expert groups, from September last year, comprehensively collecting various opinions from agricultural sites and experts and reflecting them in the ordinance.

Gwangju plans to build an integrated management system for the Farmer Public Interest Allowance and prepare implementation guidelines before fully launching the project.

Kim Young-sun, Director of Gwangju Strategy Promotion Division, said, "Now that the Farmer Public Interest Allowance Ordinance, which embodies the long-standing wishes of local farmers, has passed the city council, we will do our best to secure project funds for quick implementation to provide some help to farms facing difficulties due to recent sharp drops in Korean beef and rice prices." He added, "The Farmer Public Interest Allowance, supported through regional gift certificates, is expected to contribute to enhancing the public functions of agriculture, improving farmers' quality of life, and revitalizing the local economy."