(Iksan=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Jin-bang = Jeonbuk Iksan City announced on the 20th that it will implement a rental support program for agricultural excavators under 3 tons for the first time this year to resolve the rural labor shortage and improve agricultural productivity.
Recently, rural areas have been facing difficulties in excavation work required for sites such as rice field and field drainage maintenance and orchard development due to aging population and lack of labor.
In response, the city will promote the program by utilizing private rental companies to support part of the rental fee instead of directly purchasing excavators and renting them out.
The support targets registered farmers in local agricultural management entities who own a license to operate excavators under 3 tons, providing up to 50% of the cost of renting excavators under 3 tons, up to 200,000 won per year for a maximum of 2 days.
Inquiries can be made at the local agricultural machinery rental office (Hamyeol main office ☎ 063-59-4325, East branch office ☎ 063-859-4955, South branch office ☎ 063-859-4327, North branch office ☎ 063-859-4248).
City Forest Division Chief Im-ran said, "We expect that the agricultural excavator rental support program will help reduce management costs and improve work efficiency for farmers" and "We hope that through cooperation with private companies, it will contribute to revitalizing the local economy and enable more farmers to achieve efficient agricultural work."