Gwangju City to Purchase 4,813 Tons of 2024 Public Reserve Rice

First Purchase on the 5th in Seokgok-dong, Buk-gu and Bonryang-dong, Gwangsan-gu
Two Varieties Including Kang Dae-chan and Saecheongmu Targeted Until the 28th

Gwangju City began purchasing dried rice from the 2024 harvest on the 5th in Seokgok-dong, Buk-gu, and Bonryang-dong, Gwangsan-gu. The amount of public reserve rice allocated to Gwangju this year is 4,813 tons.
[Photo by Gwangju City]

On the 5th, Gwangju City began the first purchase of dried rice for the 2024 harvest at two locations: Seokgok-dong in Buk-gu and Bonryang-dong in Gwangsan-gu, and will purchase a total of 4,813 tons of public reserve rice by the 28th.

The city was allocated 4,813 tons out of the government's total purchase volume of 495,000 tons this year, including 3,142 tons of public reserve rice and 1,671 tons of market isolation rice. This is the second largest purchase volume among metropolitan cities and provinces, following Incheon. The city will purchase 4,129 tons of dried rice, 198 tons of paddy rice, and 486 tons of direct allocation to priority farms under the Ministry of Agriculture’s agreements to reduce rice cultivation area. The purchased varieties are two types: Gangdaechan and Saechungmu.

For the 2024 public reserve rice, 40,000 KRW per sack will be paid immediately after purchase, and additional payments will be finalized by December 31 based on the average market price of rice during the harvest season. The stored rice will be processed and milled into welfare rice starting January next year and distributed to socially vulnerable groups.

Meanwhile, Gwangju City has introduced a farmers' public interest allowance for the first time among special and metropolitan cities to recognize and enhance the quality of life of farmers and the public value of agriculture, providing support to farmers facing difficulties due to rice market liberalization and rising agricultural equipment prices.

Nam Taeksong, Director of the Agricultural and Animal Policy Division of Gwangju City, stated, “Rice-producing farms should be careful not to ship varieties other than the purchased ones, Gangdaechan and Saechungmu, to avoid being excluded from the public reserve rice purchase program for five years.” He added, “At purchase sites where many people gather, we will station vehicle guides and safety personnel to ensure quarantine and prevent safety accidents.”