(Asan=Yonhap News) Reporter Yoo Ui-joo = Asan City, South Chungcheong Province, announced on the 29th that despite abnormal low temperatures in the spring and heavy rains in the summer this year, the agricultural sector achieved stable results. Rice production amounted to 59,325 tons, a slight increase from last year, and the purchase price also rose by more than 10,000 won per 40 kg compared to last year, ranging from 72,000 to 74,500 won. Although the production and yield of pears, the representative crop, decreased due to worsening weather conditions, the export volume to the United States and Southeast Asia increased by 23% compared to last year, reaching 1,382 tons. The area affected by fruit tree frost damage also decreased to 0.5 hectares, showing a calming trend. However, the reduction in farmland due to urban development and the aging of the farming population are still cited as unresolved issues threatening the overall sustainability of regional agriculture. Currently, the average age of the rural population in Asan is 67.8 years, and the rice cultivation area is 9,000 hectares, a decrease of about 20% compared to the early 2000s. In response, the city has embarked on building a model of a "rural-urban complex city where industry and agriculture grow together" through structural transformation of agriculture. Six core policies are being promoted, including establishing a local food recycling system, strengthening the competitiveness of the rice industry, resolving the decrease in agricultural population and labor shortage, expanding smart agriculture and nurturing young farmers, stabilizing farmers' income and reducing management costs, and ensuring stable production in response to climate change. Mayor Oh Se-hyun emphasized, "If agriculture thrives, the region will thrive, and if the food is healthy, citizens can rest assured," and stressed that "next year, all the city's capabilities will be focused on being a solid partner for farmers."