Lee Gae-ho, the new Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, expressed concerns over a sharp price hike in major crops, affected by weeks of hot and dry weather, and the ensuing typhoon that brought heavy rain and strong wind.
"We will expand farmers' markets and release 1.5 times the normal supplies of major foods (including apples, pears, vegetables, cabbages and meat) from the stockpile, ahead of Chuseok," Lee said in an interview with Yonhap News at the Ministry's Seoul office. "We will prevent an excessive price surge and closely monitor the market to maintain a relevant price range."
While stabilizing the food market is a major role for the Ministry, Lee said the government will also seek ways to guarantee a stable level of income for small-scale farmers by upgrading the target price for rice.
"We will expand farmers' markets and release 1.5 times the normal supplies of major foods (including apples, pears, vegetables, cabbages and meat) from the stockpile, ahead of Chuseok," Lee said in an interview with Yonhap News at the Ministry's Seoul office. "We will prevent an excessive price surge and closely monitor the market to maintain a relevant price range."
While stabilizing the food market is a major role for the Ministry, Lee said the government will also seek ways to guarantee a stable level of income for small-scale farmers by upgrading the target price for rice.
