"Plant Alternative Crops Instead of Rice in Paddy Fields"... Namyangju City Offers Up to 5.5 Million Won in Support

Namyangju City Launches "2026 Strategic Crop Direct Payment Program"
Expanded Eligible Crops, Higher Payment Rates...Additional Double-Cropping Incentives

Namyangju City in Gyeonggi Province announced that it will promote the "2026 Strategic Crop Direct Payment Program" and begin accepting applications from February 23, in order to increase the food self-sufficiency rate and stabilize the supply and demand of rice.

A view of Namyangju City Hall. Provided by Namyangju City

The strategic crop direct payment program is a system that provides subsidies to farmers who cultivate strategic crops such as wheat, sesame, and summer forage crops in rice paddies instead of rice. Through the implementation of this program, the city plans to expand the self-sufficiency base for key food crops and strengthen the stable income base of farming households.

Starting this year, the range of crops eligible for direct payments will be expanded and the payment unit price for some items will be increased.

In addition to the existing summer crops such as legumes, powdered rice, corn, and sesame, paddy rice for supply-demand control, sorghum, Job's tears, and alfalfa will be newly included. The unit payment for summer forage crops will be raised from 5 million won to 5.5 million won per hectare, and the unit payment for corn and sesame will each be increased from 1 million won to 1.5 million won.

In addition, summer forage crops will be added to the list of double-cropping incentive targets, and an additional 1 million won per hectare will be paid separately.

Those eligible for payments are farmers and others registered as agricultural management entities. Their non-farming income must be less than 37 million won, and they must cultivate at least 1,000 square meters of strategic crops.

The application period is from February 23 to April 3 for winter crops, and from February 23 to May 29 for summer crops. Applications can be submitted at the administrative welfare center that has jurisdiction over the location where the applicant has the largest area of farmland.

An official from Namyangju City said, "The expansion of this strategic crop direct payment program is a measure to strengthen the institutional foundation for balancing the supply and demand of rice and supporting the management stability of farmers," adding, "As the program has been improved through increases in payment unit prices and the expansion of double-cropping incentives, we hope that many farming households will apply within the application period so that it can provide substantial help."