Damyang-gun Praised for Realizing 'Prosperous Wealthy Rural Areas' in the 8th Elected Term

Expansion of Organic Fertilizer Support... Easing Management Cost Burden, Improving Manure Treatment Issues, Resolving Odor Complaints 'Three Birds with One Stone'

Focusing Efforts on Alternative Crop Cultivation, Fostering Young Farmers, and Enhan

Jellanam-do Damyang-gun announced on the 8th that various policies are being promoted to realize the core pledge of the 8th local government term, ‘Prosperous Wealthy Rural Communities,’ receiving favorable reviews from residents.

Since the launch of the 8th local government term, County Governor Lee Byeong-no has set ‘Prosperous Wealthy Rural Communities’ as a core policy to revitalize Damyang’s primary industry, agriculture, and is discovering and implementing policies needed by the residents.

In particular, the organic fertilizer support project, which is being expanded to promote the resource utilization and recycling of agricultural and livestock by-products and to preserve the soil environment through organic matter supply for sustainable agriculture, has been significantly expanded.

The county increased the support unit price for organic fertilizer from 1,200 won in 2022 to 1,500 won this year, providing a fixed support of 2,800 won.

Along with this, the support quantity has been expanded from 700,000 bags to 1,050,000 bags, allowing farmers to significantly reduce management cost burdens amid rising prices and the era of high oil prices.

Additionally, the project is simultaneously solving the livestock manure disposal problem and odor complaints, which remain challenges in any city or county, gaining great support from residents.

Damyang-gun’s entrusted processing volume of Hanwoo and beef cattle manure was 19,000 tons, with an entrusted processing rate of only 14%.

However, with the expansion of this project, complaints from residents suffering from odors have decreased, and it is evaluated to greatly contribute to natural circulation and eco-friendly agriculture.

A livestock farmer in Wolsan-myeon said, “The livestock manure disposal problem, which was a major concern, has been greatly helped by the significant expansion of the livestock manure compost project since the 8th local government term, greatly shortening the recovery and processing period.”

Measures have also been prepared to ensure stable income for rice farmers who faced difficulties due to the decline in rice prices last year.

To adjust rice production, the area for cultivating other crops has been significantly expanded to 230 hectares through strategic crop direct payments and paddy field crop diversification support projects, while pilot cultivation sites for non-glutinous rice and new scenic crop sites such as canola and sunflower are being established to be utilized as tourism resources.

Efforts are also focused on fostering young farmers who will bring vitality to rural areas.

Damyang-gun, in line with the government’s policy to nurture 30,000 young farmers, has finally selected 45 young successor farmers this year, an increase of 26 compared to the previous year.

In addition, 26 farms (2.7 billion won) have been selected and supported through the ‘Young Farmer Development Project,’ which comprehensively supports the farming infrastructure of young farmers in the county.

Active policies are being implemented to attract young farmers, such as promoting the ‘Young Farmer Direct Payment Support Project,’ which continuously provides farming settlement support funds to young farmers in their 4th to 5th year of independent management.

Furthermore, the county has expanded the support amount and age range for the ‘Women Farmers Happiness Voucher Support Project,’ funded by the county budget to improve the quality of life for women farmers.

The county is also focusing on improving the quality of life for farmers by conducting a village communal meal support project during busy farming seasons to reduce household burdens.

County Governor Lee Byeong-no said, “About 50% of the total population is related to agriculture in Damyang, and Damyang can only prosper if farmers live well. During the 8th local government term, we will expand support in various agricultural fields and create prosperous wealthy rural communities through innovations leading the future of agriculture.”