Yangju City Accepting Applications for "2026 Strategic Crop Direct Payment Program" Until May 29

Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province is accepting applications for the "2026 Strategic Crop Direct Payment Program" until May 29. Applications can be submitted by visiting the eup, myeon, or dong Administrative Welfare Center where the farmland is located, or online through the "Nongup-eji (nongupez.go.kr)" system.

Exterior view of the Agricultural Technology Center. Provided by Yangju City

The strategic crop direct payment program is a scheme designed to reduce rice cultivation area and stabilize the supply and demand of rice. Direct payments are provided based on area to farmers who cultivate at least 1,000 square meters of strategic crops such as wheat, barley, legumes, summer forage crops, corn, and oilseeds on eligible paddy fields.

For winter crops, only items that can be harvested by the end of June are eligible. Wheat is supported at 100 won per square meter, while other food crops such as barley, rye, and oats, as well as winter forage crops, are supported at 50 won per square meter. Applications for winter crops are accepted until April 3.

For summer crops, summer forage crops are supported at 550 won per square meter, legumes at 200 won, corn and oilseeds at 150 won, alfalfa and adlay at 250 won, and sorghum at 240 won, respectively. In particular, if double-cropping is practiced by cultivating summer legumes or forage crops on plots where winter wheat or forage crops were grown, an additional 100 won per square meter will be provided. The application deadline for summer crops is May 29.

However, among legumes, white soybeans and soybean-sprout soybeans can only be applied for by individuals or corporations that fulfilled the strategic crop direct payment requirements in the previous year, and the eligible area is also limited to the area for which direct payments for those items were implemented in the previous year.

An official from Yangju City said, "We hope that the expansion of items under the strategic crop direct payment program and the increase in unit payment amounts will help improve the food self-sufficiency rate and stabilize farmers' incomes," adding, "We encourage active participation from eligible farmers."