Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs "Supports 4.3 million KRW per ha for new forage cultivation in rice paddies"

'Non-Haegye Forage Project' Promotion Briefing Session

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Joo Sang-don] On the 7th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held the 2023 'Paddy Field Summer Forage Project Promotion and Briefing Session' at the Agricultural and Food Officials Training Institute located in Naju, Jeonnam, the ministry announced on the 8th. The briefing session was attended by farmers engaged in rice cultivation and livestock farming in the Jeonnam region, local governments, regional agricultural and livestock cooperatives, forage specialized complexes, and distribution management entities.

Forage is an essential fibrous feed for raising ruminants such as Korean beef cattle and dairy cows. In 2021, out of the total demand (dry matter basis) of 4,315,000 tons, domestic forage accounted for 1,299,000 tons, rice straw 3,016,000 tons, and imported forage 903 tons, resulting in a forage self-sufficiency rate of 82.7%.

However, the supply ratio of rice straw compared to total demand is about 70%, indicating a shortage of high-quality forage. Additionally, last year's average forage prices rose by approximately 30-55% by item compared to 2020, due to the combined effects of increased compound feed prices and supply shortages relative to demand. Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs views the urgent need to explore new avenues to expand the supply of domestic forage.

Winter forage is mainly cultivated in paddy fields. However, summer forage is mostly produced in dry fields due to rice cultivation. Therefore, the government plans to provide support of 4.3 million KRW per hectare for paddy fields that cultivated rice last year and newly cultivated forage this summer. The ministry expects that if the paddy field summer forage project, utilizing the strategic crop direct payment system, is successfully established, an additional 85,000 to 100,000 tons (dry matter basis) of domestic forage can be secured, significantly contributing to forage supply and price stabilization.

To ensure the successful establishment of the paddy field summer forage project, the government will provide policy support at each stage, including seed procurement, production management, and market development. First, it plans to secure the target cultivation area of 7,000 hectares through forage specialized complexes (30,000 ha) mainly cultivating winter forage in paddy fields and livestock-agriculture recycling complexes centered on regional agricultural and livestock cooperatives linking crop and livestock farmers. Additionally, to facilitate smooth production management for newly entering forage farmers, a dedicated 1:1 technical support team composed of the Animal Science Institute and regional agricultural and livestock cooperatives will be operated continuously. Appropriate machinery and equipment will also be supported through the Forage Production Base Expansion Project, Food Crop Joint Management Body Development Project, and Drainage Improvement Project.

Furthermore, while promoting contract cultivation between crop and livestock farmers, the government will explore various benefits for demand sectors that use more summer forage instead of imported forage. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to operate a comprehensive situation room from the end of February until the project concludes to continuously monitor the project's progress and provide overall management and support.

At the briefing session, Jung Woon-tae, president of the Korea Forage Association, requested, "Since summer forage, which has traditionally been cultivated in dry fields, must now be grown in paddy fields, drainage work is very important, so comprehensive expansion of machinery and equipment support is necessary." Some rice farmers who participated in the 2018-2020 Paddy Field Crop Diversification Support Project appealed, "Summer forage is mainly produced by livestock farmers for self-consumption, but even then, there was almost no market after producing paddy field summer forage, which was very frustrating," and "We ask the government to actively promote and secure markets so that the produced summer forage can be smoothly distributed to livestock farmers and total mixed ration (TMR) factories."

In response, Jeong Kyung-seok, director of the Livestock Environment Resources Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "To secure stable markets for paddy field summer forage, we plan to actively reflect voices from the field, such as holding regional briefing sessions targeting TMR factories," and added, "Active interest and participation from rice farmers, livestock farmers, forage specialized complexes, and distribution management entities are necessary for this project."