Song Mi-ryeong “Farmland survey consultation continues… Brazilian egg imports are a price stabilization measure” (comprehensive)

Song Mi-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced on the 19th that 100 to 150 inquiries are being received per day at the telephone counseling center being operated regarding the complete farmland survey.

Minister Song appeared on the YouTube channel Oh My TV's 'Park Jeong-ho's Hotspot' on this day and said, "We have been running a farmland survey counseling center since last Monday (12th), and we are counseling 100 to 150 cases a day. There are many inquiries about the types of farmland speculation and the farmland banking system."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs operates a telephone counseling center (☎ 1811-8852) to relieve farmers' anxiety about farmland surveys, and dispatches about 70 bureau and manager-level employees as regional officers to provide on-site explanations.

Minister Song emphasized, “The farmland survey is not for the purpose of disposal or crackdown, but rather to update farmland-related information and build a database,” and added, “The government’s position has never changed from the beginning.”

Subsequently, the disposal of farmland was limited to 3 types of speculation and 4 types of serious illegal use, and the existing policy of not disposing of general matters such as customary leases and inherited farmland was reaffirmed.

Minister Song said, “We will prepare a special measures law within this year to grant a special period, and push for revision of the Farmland Act next year.”

He also explained that he will integrate farmland-related information and build a system next year that will allow everything from lease contracts to public interest payment-related tasks to be handled in one place.

Regarding the controversy over importing eggs from Brazil, he emphasized, "Even if the price of eggs rises even slightly, common people and restaurant operators face difficulties," and "Emergency imports were needed to prevent price increases, but the countries from which they could be imported were limited."

He then reiterated his position that this import is a pilot project to secure an import route in preparation for emergency situations such as future outbreaks of avian influenza (AI).

He also explained that of the approximately 1.6 billion won spent on importing eggs from Brazil, the cost of purchasing local eggs was 200 million won, and the rest was air transportation costs and tariffs.

Regarding the issue of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), he emphasized, "We will not push forward or rush to a conclusion," and added, "We will discuss thoroughly and obtain the consent of farmers."

Regarding the Nonghyup reform, it was announced that following the first reform to strengthen members' participation in management and check and control mechanisms, they will pursue a second reform to increase members' actual profits.

In addition, he said, “For farmers who are experiencing difficulties due to falling prices of agricultural products, we are implementing measures such as promoting consumption and isolating markets in production areas and considering additional financial support measures,” and added, “There is a need to expand government investment so that farmers can receive the right price and consumers can purchase agricultural products at an appropriate price.”