Over 160 Employees Join Warmth Sharing at Rural Field Sites This Fall
On the 8th, more than 160 employees of Yeongju City Hall visited farms in Baejeom-ri and Deokhyeon-ri of Sunheung-myeon and Yujeon-ri of Bonghyeon-myeon to assist with apple harvesting for farmers facing difficulties in farming due to old age, illness, or disabilities.
Since the 2nd of last month, Yeongju City has been receiving recommendations for farms in need of labor through the eup, myeon, and dong offices, prioritizing support for four vulnerable farms that urgently require help.
Park Nam-seo, Mayor of Yeongju City, is participating in autumn rural labor sharing and harvesting apples. Photo by Yeongju City
On that day, Heo Jeong-hee (83), a resident of Baejeom-ri, Sunheung-myeon, tearfully expressed, “I am deeply grateful that the busy city hall employees worked hard as if it were their own task.”
The city’s ongoing “Autumn Rural Labor Sharing” program aims to promote exchanges between urban and rural areas and alleviate labor shortages during the busy farming season. So far, 351 people from related organizations, the Nonghyup (National Agricultural Cooperative Federation), and private groups have visited 10 farms, contributing to urban-rural coexistence.
Last spring, city employees also directly participated in rural labor sharing at three farms in Pyeongeun-myeon and Buseok-myeon, areas suffering from labor shortages due to aging populations.
Mayor Park Nam-seo said, “I thank the employees who actively participated and worked hard in rural labor sharing despite their busy primary duties,” adding, “I hope many institutions and organizations will continue to actively join in supporting farms struggling with labor shortages during the busy farming season.”
Park Nam-seo, Mayor of Yeongju City, and city hall employees are participating in autumn rural labor assistance. Photo by Yeongju City
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