Field Forum for Highland Vegetable Supply/Demand Stabilization Held

The Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI, President Kim Changgil) held a Saengsaeng Field Forum on “Stabilizing Highland Vegetable Supply and Demand amid the Continuing Heat Wave” on August 2.

In a presentation, “Trends of and Outlook for Highland Chinese Cabbage and Radish Supply and Demand,” Leaf & Root Vegetable Outlook Team Leader Han Eunsu at KREI forecasted that the August price of highland Chinese cabbages would be about KRW 15,000/10kg, higher than the average year’s price, KRW 10,500, due to a decrease in shipments caused by the heat wave. Also, because of a decline in shipments, the August price of highland radishes was forecasted at approximately KRW 22,000/20kg, higher than the average year’s price, KRW 13,320.

That day, participants of the Forum agreed that farmers and local traders should thoroughly manage fields in advance and invest in facilities for good outcomes of a year’s farming. Dr. Kim Gideok at the Highland Agricultural Research Institute emphasized, “It is necessary to consider this heat wave as an opportunity to create a new production system for highland Chinese cabbages, rather than as a crisis.” President Yu Yeonghwan of the Daegwalleong Agricultural Cooperative stressed the need for government support including irrigation equipment and nutritional supplements in case the drought and heat wave would continue. President Jeong Mangi of the Korea Fresh Vegetable Cooperatives said that improving the system is needed so that local traders should also be able to receive support regarding costs for nutritional supplement input and irrigation. Chairperson Kim Sigap of the Chinese Cabbage and Radish Producer Council pointed out the possibility of a drastic decline in prices of the two vegetables due to the concentrated harvest if the drought and heat wave would delay the harvest.