Recognized for Achievements in Rice Supply Stabilization and Disaster Response
Attains Highest Grade
While nature determines the harvest, it is the administration that shapes the report card.
Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province has achieved the remarkable feat of being selected as the top institution for two consecutive years in the Gyeongbuk Province Food Policy Evaluation.
Uljin County, Gyeongbuk Province Food Policy Evaluation Awarded 'Best Award' for Two Consecutive Years. Provided by Uljin County
On December 18, 2025, Uljin County received the highest grade, the Best Award, in the "2025 Gyeongbuk Province Food Policy Evaluation," achieving balanced results across all evaluation categories and repeating its success from 2024.
The Gyeongbuk Province Food Policy Evaluation is a representative indicator that comprehensively assesses the agricultural policy capabilities of local governments within the province, covering five main areas: appropriate rice production, fostering the food industry, efforts to secure national funding, special policy initiatives, and the scale of unused project budgets.
Uljin County was recognized for both the effectiveness and sustainability of its policies in each category.
▲ Proactive Stabilization of Rice Supply and Strengthening of Agricultural Infrastructure
To address the issue of declining rice consumption, Uljin County took preemptive measures to reduce rice cultivation areas and foster strategic crops. Through the rice cultivation area adjustment program, the county provided a total of 890 million won to support the strategic crop direct payment system and the paddy field crop cultivation support project. Additionally, the county allocated 250 million won from its own budget to the small-scale rice farmer seedling support project, supplying a total of 127,000 seedling boxes, thereby actively reducing the financial burden on farmers.
Furthermore, the county invested 800 million won from its own budget in the high-quality farmland creation and soil improvement project, which was relaunched after 13 years, completing soil improvement on 100 hectares of farmland and laying the foundation for high-quality agricultural production. The straw return project was expanded to 700 hectares-an increase of 185% compared to the previous year’s 378 hectares-with 350 million won in county funding, contributing to both soil improvement and the promotion of eco-friendly agriculture.
▲ Proactive Support for Farm Management Stability Amid Abnormal Weather and Disasters
In particular, when unprecedented and prolonged heavy rainfall during the 2025 harvest season caused agricultural disasters such as pre-harvest sprouting in rice and waterlogging in soybeans, Uljin County implemented proactive support measures to compensate affected farmers and stabilize their management, earning high praise.
Additionally, for paddy crops (rice and paddy soybeans), the county provided 400,000 won per hectare for rice drying costs and 300,000 won per hectare for soybean sorting costs, minimizing income losses due to quality degradation. Uljin County also purchased the entire allocation of 65,000 bags of public reserve rice, as well as all 2,300 bags of disaster-affected rice requested by farmers, alleviating the management burden for agricultural producers.
An official from Uljin County stated, "Winning the Best Award for two consecutive years is the result of Uljin County and local farmers working together as one to voluntarily reduce rice cultivation areas and overcome disasters, despite climate change and unstable rice supply. Moving forward, Uljin County will continue to prioritize increasing farmers' income and establishing a sustainable agricultural foundation, leading dynamic agricultural policy support in the era of major agricultural transformation."
This achievement is the result of Uljin County's proactive food policy and disaster response efforts, and it is expected to make a significant contribution to strengthening the competitiveness and sustainable development of agriculture in Uljin County in the future.
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