"Less Worry for Rice Farmers" Gangjin County Significantly Strengthens Rice Farming Safety Net This Year

Integrated Support System Linking Direct Payments, Management Stabilization, and Disaster Insurance
"Income and Risk Management Package" Now in Operation

Gangjin County in Jeonnam is implementing an integrated agricultural support system this year for stable rice farming operations and income protection. This system combines direct payments, management stabilization funds, various subsidy programs, and disaster insurance in an organic manner.

Gangjin County Office, Jeonnam.

According to Gangjin County on January 22, this year's rice farming support policy has been designed as an "income, cost, and risk management package," moving away from the previous approach focused on single subsidy programs. This new structure encompasses income protection, cost reduction, and disaster risk management. As a result, rice farmers can expect a direct support effect of approximately 3.4 million won per hectare, even when calculated conservatively, through a combination of direct payments, management stabilization funds, and the agricultural and fisheries allowance.

The direct support categories include: the basic public direct payment (1.3 million won for small-scale farms, 1.7-2.15 million won per hectare for general farms); strategic crop direct payment (500,000-5 million won per hectare for cultivating powdered rice, legumes, or forage crops in paddy fields); eco-friendly agriculture direct payment (570,000-950,000 won per hectare); continuous direct payments for organic and pesticide-free farming; and management stabilization funds (480,000 won per hectare from the provincial government and 920,000 won per hectare from the county itself).

The agricultural and fisheries public allowance has been increased by 100,000 won this year to 700,000 won. The county raised the allowance in consideration of rising agricultural management costs and income instability for farm households, strengthening basic income stability by providing a fixed annual payment of 700,000 won per management entity.

Support for the production of high-quality rice will also be provided in parallel. The county will offer an incentive of 1,000-1,500 won per 40kg sack for high-quality conventional rice and 4,000 won per 40kg sack for high-quality organic rice shipments. Agricultural materials for rice cultivation, such as seedbeds, seedlings, and packaging materials, will be supported at a rate of 195,000 won per hectare.

The pest control and disaster response system will also be strengthened. For eco-friendly paddy fields, golden apple snails will be supplied to help control weeds (120,000 won per hectare), and preventive agents against snail damage will be subsidized at a rate of 80%, up to a limit of 250,000 won per hectare. To improve productivity in aging paddy fields, a soil improvement project for high-quality rice production will also be promoted, with an investment of 7.54 million won per hectare.

In addition, the county will provide support for crop disaster insurance (covering 90% of the premium), farmer safety insurance, and comprehensive agricultural machinery insurance, thereby establishing a risk management system to prepare for natural disasters and accidents.