Tenth Extension Since 2020 Introduction, Cumulative Reductions Reach 2.1 Billion Won
Direct Benefits for Over 8,400 Farms Hit Hard by Rising Labor and Input Costs
Yeongcheon City announced that it will extend the "50% reduction in agricultural machinery rental fees" benefit, which was originally scheduled to end at the end of last year, for one more year until December 31, 2026, in order to ease the management burden on farmers struggling due to domestic and international economic crises and rising agricultural input prices.
This measure reflects the voices from the field of fruit and open-field vegetable farms, which are facing difficulties due to rising labor costs and a shortage of foreign workers.
With this decision, Yeongcheon City has now extended the rental fee reduction a total of 10 times since it was first introduced in April 2020 as a response to COVID-19, making it a leading example of proactive support for farmers nationwide.
According to the Yeongcheon City Agricultural Technology Center, analysis of the rental fee reduction over the past 5 years and 9 months shows that the cumulative reduction amount has reached approximately 2.1 billion won (351 million won annually), and the total number of rentals has reached 90,000 units (16,000 units annually), indicating a highly positive response from the agricultural sector.
Currently, 8,458 member farms using the Yeongcheon City Agricultural Machinery Rental Service Center will directly benefit from this extension.
The reduction will be applied uniformly as a 50% discount on agricultural machinery rental fees, and overlapping reductions will not be granted to those already receiving discounts.
In particular, Yeongcheon City, as a major garlic-producing region and a designated "Outstanding Model Municipality for Field Crop Mechanization," expects that this extension of rental fee reductions will contribute to improved agricultural productivity in tandem with the advancement of field crop mechanization.
Choi Kimoon, Mayor of Yeongcheon City, stated, "I hope the extension of rental fee reductions will provide practical help to farmers suffering from the triple burden of rising agricultural input costs and labor expenses," adding, "We will continue to do our best to resolve labor shortages and create a happy agricultural environment for citizens by revitalizing the agricultural machinery rental program."
Meanwhile, farmers wishing to rent agricultural machinery can apply by visiting the Yeongcheon City Agricultural Machinery Rental Service Center in person or by phone, and must complete a mandatory safety training course before equipment is released.
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