Visit to Jeonnam Agricultural Technology Center... Meeting with Farmers and Others
Sharing Rural Realities: Climate Crisis and Falling Rice Prices
Commitment to Addressing Key Issues Including Grain Management Act Amendment
Promoting Transition to Cultivation Systems Using Renewable Energy
Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party presidential primary candidate, attended the "Agricultural Science and Technology Promotion Meeting" held at the Jeonnam Agricultural Technology Center (Changnong Town Center) in Naju, Jeonnam, at 10 a.m. on the 25th, where he listened to the difficulties faced by rural areas in Jeonnam. Photo by Shim Jinseok
Presidential primary candidate Lee Jaemyung visited Jeonnam as the final stop of the Democratic Party’s presidential primary tour in the Honam region, where he presented a vision for sweeping reforms in the agricultural sector, including the amendment of the Grain Management Act.
On the morning of April 25 at 10 a.m., Lee attended the “Future Agriculture Forward Base: Honam Agricultural Science and Technology Promotion Meeting” held at the Jeonnam Agricultural Technology Center (Changnong Town Center, 1st floor) in Naju, Jeonnam.
The meeting was attended by Lee, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young Rok, Jeonnam Planning and Coordination Office Director Yoon Jin Ho, Jeonnam Autonomous Administration Bureau Director Ko Mi Kyung, Jeonnam Agricultural Technology Center Director Kim Haeng Ran, R&D Bureau Director Lee Jin Woo, Yellow Basket CEO Ryu Jin Ho, and Atta Dalda Farm CEO Yoon Ji Hwan.
During the meeting, participants discussed the difficult realities facing rural Jeonnam, as well as policies and alternatives to improve these conditions. In particular, the discussion focused on topics such as “the transformation of agricultural technology through the integration of AI and other technologies,” “the need to amend the Grain Management Act to prevent the collapse of agriculture due to the sharp decline in rice prices,” and “changes in the agricultural environment caused by the climate crisis.”
Candidate Lee Jae Myung and Jeonnam Governor Kim Young Rok met together in front of the main entrance of Jeonnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services on the 25th and exchanged brief greetings. Photo by Shim Jin Seok
Lee stated, “I recently saw a report that Japanese tourists are buying domestically produced rice, and I believe the likelihood of such situations becoming more frequent is high.”
He continued, “Agriculture is both a national security industry and a strategic industry. Recently, farms across the country, including those in Jeonnam, have been struggling due to rice prices. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the rice production system is not destroyed by temporary overproduction issues, but there are challenges in this regard.”
He added, “In addition, climate change and agricultural disasters are becoming more frequent. There are multiple structural problems, including the crisis of rural depopulation, instability in supply and demand, and the collapse of producer prices. Ultimately, these issues have arisen because government functions have not been adequately performed.”
Lee explained, “The Democratic Party has promoted various policies such as amending the Grain Management Act to stabilize rice prices and protect rural areas, as well as safeguarding the livestock industry. However, progress has been stalled due to vetoes by the president and acting authorities. We will make every effort to ensure that agriculture does not regress or face further crises.”
Candidate Lee Jaemyung is directly inspecting the crops being cultivated in the energy self-sufficient smart farm research building. Photo by Shim Jinseok
After the meeting, Lee moved to the “energy self-sufficient smart farm research building” (282-1 Sanje-ri, Naju, Jeonnam), the first facility in Korea to test-cultivate crops using solar power and other renewable energies, where he inspected various facilities.
Lee meticulously checked the entire crop growth process himself, confirming the potential for utilizing renewable energy in agriculture.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Lee presented detailed pledges on his Facebook page for Korea’s leap toward becoming an agricultural powerhouse, including “establishment of practical disaster compensation regulations,” “expansion of smart agriculture,” “expansion of solar pension through solar power generation,” “establishment of an advanced country-style farm income safety net,” and “stabilization of rice prices through amendment of the Grain Management Act.”
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