"Infringement on Farming Rights...
Rice Self-Sufficiency Will Decline"
The Gwangju Farmers' Association of the National Peasants' Federation held a press conference in front of Gwangju City Hall on the 5th, shouting slogans. Provided by Gwangju Farmers' Association
Agricultural organizations in Gwangju and Jeonnam have protested the government's plan to reduce rice cultivation areas, claiming it is a unilateral move that strips farmers of their rights.
The Gwangju City Farmers' Association of the Korean Peasants League held a press conference in front of Gwangju City Hall on the 5th, stating, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' 'rice cultivation area reduction plan,' which provides benefits to farmers who increase the cultivation area of crops other than rice, should be completely scrapped."
The Gwangju City Farmers' Association pointed out, "The government recently announced that it would reduce 80,000 hectares, equivalent to 12% of the total rice cultivation area nationwide, to lower production and stabilize prices," and added, "This is the same as the government unilaterally depriving farmers of their right to farm."
They stated, "The expected decrease in rice due to the reduction in cultivation area is 408,700 tons, which is equal to the amount of imported rice. Instead of suspending rice imports, the government is trying to resolve the issue by infringing on farmers' farming rights," and demanded, "Stop importing surplus foreign rice and withdraw the unilaterally implemented reduction plan."
They also criticized, "Statistics Korea announced that last year's rice production (3,585,000 tons) decreased by 3.2% compared to the previous year (3,702,000 tons), but farmers believe it has decreased by more than 15%. In a situation where extreme heat, pests, and heavy rains make it impossible to predict farming outcomes, a unilateral reduction in rice cultivation area will result in a decrease in rice self-sufficiency."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
