"Agricultural Fields Are the Starting Point for Policy": Gangwon State Reaches Out to Agricultural Organizations

【Financial News Chuncheon=Kim Ki-seop】Gangwon State met with agricultural organizations for the first time since the launch of the ninth popularly elected administration to hear directly from those working in the field.
According to Gangwon State on the 15th, the first meeting between the province’s agricultural organizations and the agricultural policy administration of the ninth popularly elected administration was held that day at the Chuncheon Agricultural Organizations Hall. About 50 people, including representatives of 19 agricultural organizations across the province, attended. The meeting was organized to share Gangwon State’s agricultural policy direction and hear directly about difficulties and key issues facing agricultural communities.
A broad range of organizations representing different crops and sectors participated, including the General Federation of Agricultural Organizations, the Provincial Federation of Successor Agricultural Managers, the Provincial Federation of the Korean Peasants League, the Provincial Federation of Korean Rural Leaders, and the Provincial 4-H Federation. They presented opinions from the field.
Participants successively raised difficulties facing agriculture and rural communities, including rising production costs for agricultural materials and labor, unstable agricultural-product prices, labor shortages in rural areas, and an aging population. They also submitted various requests, including measures to address trade issues such as the government’s Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), expanded support for half-price agricultural materials, reduced fuel costs through tax exemptions, guaranteed minimum prices for agricultural products, expanded allowances for farmers, and efforts to boost agricultural-product exports.
Gangwon State decided that the relevant departments would review the requests from the perspective of those working in the field. For issues that are difficult to resolve in the short term, it will seek solutions through proposals to the central government and institutional improvements. The province also plans to develop the meeting into a continuous channel for communication rather than a one-time event. It will work with the agricultural sector to find solutions to common issues and examine crop- and sector-specific matters in light of conditions in the field.
Woo Sang-ho, Governor of Gangwon State, said, "We will make difficulties in the field, such as the burden of agricultural materials and labor costs and labor shortages, the starting point for our policies." He added, "We will pursue field-centered agricultural policies so that farmers can actually feel the changes."

[email protected] Kim Ki-seop Reporter