Urgent Government Decision Is Required to Save Agriculture

The agricultural situation is getting more serious by the launch of Doha Round, the plunging price of rice by the excessive production, and the proposal of the Grain Distribution Committee to lower the purchasing price by the government.

The government has little choice since pressures to open the agricultural market from outside have been increasing and, on the other side, protest of the farmers to keep the subsidies by the government has desperated.

Therefore, it is indicated that the government has to make a strategic decision to end the decade-lasting controversies about the agricultural policies upon launching of Doha Round.

10,000 members of the agricultural organizations will hold a rally in front of the Kwacheon Government Complex today to protest against the GDC`s proposal to reduce the purchasing price by 4-5 percent. They will also hold a massive rally in Yoido to request for the 6.6 percent rise of the purchase price on Dec. 2nd.

The political circle also opposed to the proposal of GDC not to stimulate the agricultural organization before the local government election and the Presidential election next year. The current situation is that the farmers` protests and politicians` sympathy are directly clashing against the request for the agricultural market by the launch of Doha Round.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is considering a raise in the unit price to preserve the income of farmers but the measure is pointed out to have a problem in increasing the rice production in a long run.

Agricultural experts indicated that overall policy shift, farmers` understanding, and the politicians` recognition of the situation are necessary to solve the mingled problems.

Seol Kwang-On, KDI director of Research Coordination, said, "it is actually impossible to reject the market opening by the launch of Doha Round. To solve the problem, the government and the political circle have to make a significant strategic decision."

Joong-Hyun Park sanjuck@donga.com