As North Korea ramps up recovery efforts from the recent flood damage, the country has stressed the need for a “proactive approach” to gearing up for the fall harvest.
According to the state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun, on Tuesday, North Korean agricultural workers and officials demonstrated high levels of dedication, diligently preparing for the fall harvest and threshing despite their packed schedule involving various ongoing projects.
The report also warned against a relaxed attitude and taking comfort in having time left, as this will inevitably lead to flawed preparations, hinder its ability to meet the urgent fall schedule, and ultimately result in decreased yields.
Specifically, the report outlined necessary preparations, including finding ways to ensure the smooth operation of agricultural machinery such as tractors, comprehensive rice harvesters, small rice harvesters, and mobile threshers, securing sufficient small and medium-sized agricultural tools, and repairing field roads to reduce fuel consumption and ensure speedy transportation.
It emphasized the need for related units to supply essential agricultural products and machine parts required for the fall harvest and threshing promptly.
North Korea, which has been grappling with chronic food shortages, has identified ‘grain production’ as its top economic priority this year and is focusing on increasing agricultural output. The insistence on thorough preparations for the harvest plan ahead of the peak season suggests that securing food remains a significant challenge.
Following the recent flooding along the border city of Sinuiju and Uiju County in North Pyongan Province, some experts predict that this disaster will negatively impact North Korea’s fall crop yields.