South Korean counties expand agricultural machinery support services

South Korean local governments in Geochang and Gangjin counties are implementing new measures to support farmers during the busy autumn farming season.

Geochang County will launch a specialized agricultural machinery transport service starting October 1. Designed to assist farmers who lack transport vehicles, the service will deliver self-propelled machinery capable of being loaded onto 1-ton vehicles. The service covers all areas of Geochang accessible by such vehicles, with fees set at 15,000 KRW for one-way trips and 30,000 KRW for round trips. Additionally, the county's agricultural machinery rental office will operate on Saturdays during October and November to accommodate seasonal needs.

In Gangjin County, the Agricultural Technology Center is expanding its rental operations from October 1 to November 30. To address labor shortages during the harvest and sowing periods, the center will extend its operating hours, starting at 8:00 AM instead of 9:00 AM. The center has prepared 594 pieces of equipment across 60 types, including soybean harvesters and garlic planters, available at four different locations. Local farmers can also benefit from a 50% reduction in rental fees. Gangjin is also focusing on community integration programs to help new farmers settle into the local area.