The purpose of the study is to evaluate the comprehensive measures, “the Integrated Agricultural & Rural Development Program”, by the incumbent participatory government, which has started from 2004, then making suggestions on how to restructure it.
The previous special plans for agriculture made substantial outcome in terms of the stable production, the enhancement of agricultural product quality and safety, and the enhanced efficiency in distribution. On the other hand, however, the producer income growth became stagnant. Under the debts, the farm households’ financial status was unsound, and the rural area’s aging and the giving up of farming have been accelerated. To resolve the problems mentioned above and effectively respond to the inevitable market opening, the comprehensive measures give a heavy weight to income growth, welfare expansion, and regional development. Since the unstable income was an issue, the government expanded the income support measure by adopting the direct payment system. Furthermore, the market-oriented agricultural policy was introduced and the government’s rice purchase program in order to support rice price was discontinued. On top of these, the government is reviewing the introduction of customized agricultural policies to enhance policy effectiveness by applying the differentiated policy program in consideration of farm household’s resources, management capability, and its choices.
From the beginning, it is scheduled to monitor and evaluate in every 3 years since it is a long term plan from 2004 to 2013. And also in order to adapt in rapidly changing environment surrounding agriculture, it is necessary to find problems and mistakes while implementing policies then adjust it. In the study, first we checked whether the policies has been executing while coordinating well with the original long term vision, objective, strategy of it, which were announced in 2004. Then by examining the appropriateness of vision and objective according to the changes in policy environment, we made a suggestion on how to adjust the policies and the related financial plan.
While grouping the policies based on sector and commodity, we analysed how well the policies have implemented. There are 6 sections in sector such that fostering agriculture into a competitive, environment friendly, high quality industry, securing farm household income and management, developing rural community and welfare, innovating distribution channel for agricultural products, fostering forestry, and maintaining agricultural production foundation. The sections in commodity are rice, livestock, vegetable and fruits.
Major suggestion made by the study is to keep food, agriculture, rural area as most important subject for deciding policies by substituting income into food. Because it is weak of rationale in combining agriculture, income, rural area as main common subjects in agricultural policy and accordingly the current comprehensive measure can't appropriately reflect the role of agricultural policy. It is desirable to expand policy of rural area that is oriented on region rather than farmers. It is necessary to fostering innovation of marketing, upgrade agriculture labor force and expand income stabilization and welfare policies. It is desirable to put more stress on policies of fostering food safety and expand rural development in terms of quality of residential life, and multi dimensional function of agriculture.
Researchers : Seongjae Park, Eui-Sik Hwang, Yongtaek Kim, Hogun Chong, Hanpil Mun, Yongwon Cho
Research Period : 2006.4. ~ 2007.3.
E-mail address : seongjae@krei.re.kr