Up 1.27% From Last Year
7,283 Farmers Eligible
Imsil County in North Jeolla Province has been providing a total of 3.6 billion KRW in farmers' public interest allowances to 7,283 farmers since the 15th, ahead of the Chuseok holiday period.
According to the county on the 18th, the farmers' public interest allowance program has been implemented since 2020 to enhance the public value of agriculture and rural communities and to create a sustainable agricultural environment.
Imsil County has been providing a total of 3.6 billion won in Farmers' Public Interest Allowance to 7,283 farmers since the 15th. Photo by Imsil County
Starting this year, the eligibility criteria have been changed from households to individual farmers, and the payment amounts have been revised to 600,000 KRW for single-person households and 300,000 KRW per person for households with two or more members.
The county accepted applications from March to May and verified qualifications, ultimately confirming 7,283 recipients-a 1.27% increase from last year.
The farmers' public interest allowance can be used at most local businesses, except for certain sectors such as entertainment venues, home shopping, health insurance premiums, and taxi fares. Notably, unlike local currency, it can also be used at affiliated stores with annual sales exceeding 3 billion KRW, which is expected to significantly boost the local economy.
Eligible recipients can visit their town or township office to receive an anonymous prepaid card worth 300,000 KRW, which can be used until August 31 of next year.
Even after receiving the allowance, recipients must continue to fulfill basic obligations such as the proper use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, maintaining the shape and function of farmland including rice paddies and fields, managing beekeeping operations, and preventing diseases and pests affecting honeybees.
If these obligations are violated, recipients must return the allowance. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from participating in the program the following year.
County Governor Sim Min stated, "By providing the farmers' public interest allowance before the long Chuseok holiday, we hope to ease the burden on farming households and invigorate the local economy," adding, "We will continue to do our best to enhance agricultural welfare and improve the quality of life for farmers."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
