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Busan Metropolitan City Conducts Pre-Demand Survey for Contract Farming of “Hwanggeum Yech’an,” a Region-Specialized Rice Variety

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The Director of Busan Metropolitan City Agricultural Technology Center, Yu Mi-bok, announced that the Center will conduct a pre-demand survey for contract farming of “Hwanggeum Yech’an” as part of the “2026 Demonstration Project for Early Expansion of Rice Varieties Developed with Buyer Participation,” in order to expand cultivation of locally developed, region-specialized rice varieties and promote stable contract farming.

This demand survey will run through February 13 and targets farmers who cultivate rice in farmlands within Gangseo-gu, Busan. The results will be used as baseline data for project implementation, including adjusting contract-farming volumes and selecting participating farms.

“Hwanggeum Yech’an,” the variety covered by the survey, is a region-specialized rice variety suited to Busan’s cultivation conditions. With its excellent quality and very high satisfaction in taste, it is expected to secure stable sales channels. Through this project, the Agricultural Technology Center plans to expand the cultivation area of “Hwanggeum Yech’an” and enhance the competitiveness of local rice brands.

In 2025, 72 farms participated in contract farming of “Hwanggeum Yech’an,” producing 603 tons on 93 hectares (ha). All of the rice was supplied for school meals, securing a stable sales channel.

Applications for the demand survey may be submitted by submitting the survey form to a Gangseo-gu Administrative Welfare Center or to a branch office (Eastern or Western) of the Busan Metropolitan City Agricultural Technology Center.

Farms confirmed for participation will sign a formal contract with the Garak Agricultural Cooperative (RPC) and take part in procurement. Farms participating in contract farming must complete Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training conducted by the Agricultural Technology Center and conduct soil testing to obtain GAP certification. Through these measures, Busan Metropolitan City plans to secure the safety and quality of rice for public meal services.

In addition, participating farms will be supported with agricultural inputs such as “Hwanggeum Yech’an” seedling trays and fertilizers, as well as crop disaster insurance. Detailed support items will be finalized later when the contract is signed.

Director Yu Mi-bok stated, “Based on last year’s contract-farming performance, we plan to enhance the stability and efficiency of the project this year through a more systematic demand survey,” adding, “We will contribute to stabilizing local farmers’ income and expanding consumption of locally produced rice through linkage with public meal services.”

For further information, please contact the Technical Agriculture Team of the Busan Metropolitan City Agricultural Technology Center (Tel. 051-970-3721).

History of “Hwanggeum Yech’an”
❖ 2022: Development of a new line by the Southern Crop Division; intermediate-glutinous type with multiple disease resistance; Busan field demonstration trial of Miryang 387
❖ 2023: Region-specialized variety cultivation complex; implementation and expansion of labor-saving cultivation technology (32 farms, 20 ha)
❖ March 2024: Variety registration for “Hwanggeum Yech’an”; consumer evaluation (282 people; 95.4% satisfied or higher)
❖ 2025: Expanded cultivation of “Hwanggeum Yech’an” (72 farms; 93 ha; 603 tons produced)