친환경농산물 저농약인증제 폐지에 따른 대응방안

Abstract

정부는 친환경농산물의 신뢰성 제고 및 일반농산물과의 가격 차별화를 위해 2015년에 저농약인증제도를 폐지할 계획이다. 친환경농산물 인증실적은 그동안 지속적으로 증가해 왔으나, 이러한 제도적 변화에 의해 친환경농산물에서 가장 큰 비중을 차지하였던 저농약농산물이 급격히 감소하면서 2010년 이후 감소하는 추세를 보이고 있다.

저농약인증제도의 폐지는 향후 친환경농산물 생산, 시장규모, 소비에 큰 영향을 미칠 것으로 예상된다. 특히 과실류의 경우 유기나 무농약재배가 어려워 친환경 과실류의 공급 부족 현상이 나타날 수 있다. 친환경농업에 있어 사실상 가장 큰 구조변화가 일어나고 있는 시점에서 제도변화의 영향을 분석하고, 적절한 대응전략을 도출하는 연구가 긴요하다.

이 연구는 친환경농가 조사를 바탕으로 제도적인 변화가 친환경농산물 생산에 미치는 영향을 분석하고, 대응전략을 제시하기 위해 수행되었다. 이 연구에서는 친환경농산물 생산실태 및 저농약인증제도 폐지에 따른 농가반응을 파악하였다. 그리고 농가조사 결과를 바탕으로 저농약인증 농가들의 향후 재배의향을 분석하였다. 저농약재배 농가들의 유기·무농약 전환의향 요인 분석 결과를 바탕으로 저농약인증제도 폐지 대응 친환경농업 발전방향을 제시하였다.

Background of Research To enlarge organic and pesticide-free acreage and prepare for the abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification, it is necessary to develop effective policy programs. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of abolishing the low-pesticide agricultural product certification on environment-friendly farming, and propose a response strategy to develop environment-friendly agriculture.

Method of Research A telephone survey was conducted to quantitatively analyze farming practices and factors that change farming practices among 650 farmers nationwide (250 grain farmers, 200 fruit farmers, and 200 vegetable farmers). With regard to the factors of farming practice change, this study used a binomial logistic regression model to analyze the factors that change farming practices. The analysis results were used to derive policy directions for developing environment-friendly agriculture.

Research Results and Implications The survey result shows that by age, those in their 60s accounted for 34.9% of the survey participants, and those in their 50s accounted for 31.8%. So in total, farmers in their 50s and 60s accounted for 66.7% of the total participants. By province, those in the Gyeonggi province accounted for 19.2%, Gyeongbuk 16.9%, Jeonnam 14.3%, Jeonbuk 13.8%, and Gyeongnam 10.5%. More than 70 percent of them have been practicing environment- friendly agriculture for 5 to 15 years. Thirty two percent of organic farmers said that the annual financial support they receive from the local government is over 810,000 won, and 21.9% said that it is between 210,000 to 400,000 won. In the case of 38.1% of pesticide-free farmers and 49.3% of low-pesticide farmers, the financial support was below 200,000 won. In response to the upcoming abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification in 2016, 36.4% of low-pesticide farmers said that they will change their farming practice into organic or pesticide-free farming. But in the case of low-pesticide fruit farmers, only 17.0% said that they will change their farming practice into organic or pesticide-free farming. As for the timing of their transition to other farming practices, 48.0% of low-pesticide farmers (48.3% in the case of low-pesticide fruit farmers) said that they will change their farming practice in 2016. In 2012, when fruits had a very little share of organic and non-pesticide agricultural products, fruits accounted for 63% of low-pesticide certification, and it is expected that the supply of fruits will decrease sharply in 2016. In the binomial logistic analysis, it was found that farmers who grow low-pesticide agricultural products are more likely to change their farming practice into organic or pesticide-free farming, as their expected price of organic or pesticide-free products is high, their area size is small, price premium of low-pesticide agricultural product is low, and the frequency of their training is high. The marginal effect of explanatory variables was analyzed as 23.9% price premium, 16.3% expected price, 5.8% contentment of support, 2.1% training, and 0.004% acreage. In response to the abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification, effective policy programs should be developed. It is necessary to enhance the direct payment system to enlarge organic and pesticide-free acreage, and pest management techniques for fruits should be developed for low-pesticide fruit farmers to change their practice into organic and pesticide- free practice. Dissemination of cultivation manual, introduction of insurance to farmers, improvement of certificate system, and advertising and marketing of environment-friendly agricultural products are useful to develop environment- friendly agriculture.

Researchers: Jeong Hak-Kyun and Moon Dong-Hyun Research period: 2012. 11. - 2013. 3. E-mail address: hak8247@krei.re.kr