Namwon City in Jeollabuk-do announced on the 13th that it is accepting applications for the Basic Public Interest Direct Payment, which supports the stabilization of farm income and the enhancement of agricultural and rural public functions, until April 30.
Non-face-to-face applications are accepted until the 29th of the current month and are available only to farmers who have no changes in their Basic Public Interest Direct Payment registration information from last year and their agricultural management entity registration information for this year. The application process is conducted via text messages or KakaoTalk sent by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The majority of other eligible applicants can visit the administrative welfare center of the town or township where their largest farmland is located to apply in person during the visit application period from the 3rd of next month until April 30.
The support targets farmland that has previously received rice, field crop, or disadvantaged condition direct payments properly. Due to the amendment of the Public Interest Direct Payment Act last year, farms that did not receive direct payments between 2017 and 2019 are now included, which is expected to increase the number of beneficiary farms.
The Basic Public Interest Direct Payment is divided into two types: small-scale farm direct payments and area-based direct payments. Applicants must confirm eligibility requirements and apply based on the actual cultivated farmland.
Starting this year, the unit price for small-scale farm direct payments has increased by 100,000 KRW compared to last year, with 1.3 million KRW to be paid. Area-based direct payments will be paid between 1 million and 2.05 million KRW per hectare, applying a regressive unit price according to the standard area.
Applicants must comply with the basic direct payment requirements, including ▲completion of education ▲participation in village community activities ▲proper management of agricultural waste ▲compliance with pesticide safety standards ▲appropriate use of chemical fertilizers ▲prohibition of pesticide or livestock manure discharge into public water bodies ▲and keeping farming diaries. Failure to comply will result in a 10% reduction of the total basic direct payment amount for each unmet requirement.
The head of the Field Support Division at the Agricultural Technology Center said, “Since this project aims to stabilize farmers’ income, we will actively promote it to ensure that no eligible Basic Public Interest Direct Payment recipients are missed. We urge applicants to apply based on the actual cultivated farmland and to strictly comply with the requirements to avoid any reduction in direct payments.”
Namwon = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jeong Young-gwon baekok@asiae.co.kr
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