[Editorial] Agricultural resuscitation required for farmers.
Some farmers are desperately waging a "rice sales war" after abolition of the government purchase price of rice and introduction of a public savings system for emergencies, in order to prevent lack of rice in South Korea.
Farmers are using several methods to sell rice in the city, such as visiting apartment complexes by truck and calling on acquaintances door to door. Small amounts of income make the farmers sigh deep sighs.
In addition, it is interesting that they use direct trade markets and sales through homepages, on-line auctions, and Internet "shocking sales". Some distribution companies are said to sell at lower prices, so some farmers are suffering greatly. On another note, as the National Assembly is expected to ratify a rice agreement draft on the 16th of November, 3.6 million farmers will go on a national hunger strike and begin open-air storage of rice, to demonstrate against the government.
November 11th is the "day of farmers" designated by the government. Literally, the Chinese characters 土月土日
(十一月十一日) mean that the earth (土) and agriculture cannot be separated from each other. The government designed the day for farmers to take comfort from their labors. It is very discouraging for some farmers to greet the day in the countryside because of the situation.
Farmers are victims of modern history in South Korea because of a long-term policy of lower prices for rice. In the process of modernization, they were the invisible main players in the role of enduring economic disadvantage. The government should not discourage the farmers again. Before the National Assembly and the government ratify the rice agreement draft, they should listen to the voices of the farmers.
Despite insuring ratification of the rice agreement draft, they have to prepare measures through a conference organization comprised of representatives from farmers, the government, and the National Assembly. Can they find measures to soothe the farmers who have worked for a lifetime, and have kept in mind "living with the earth like a friend and going back to the earth"?
|
 / 입력시간: 2005. 11.11. 08:13
|
|
|
