The May 8 edition of Rodong Sinmun featured an editorial titled "Let's mobilize all resources and methods for transplanting rice"
North Korea is ordering all party organizations to provide workers and resources during rice planting season as part of a determined effort to boost agricultural production this year.
“On May 6, municipal and county party committees and grassroots party organizations across the province received instructions from the provincial party committee to ensure they ‘don’t miss the critical moment for agricultural production.’ In essence, they must provide manpower and materials needed to increase grain production in a timely manner,” a source in North Pyongan province told Daily NK recently.
The provincial party committee emphasized that providing these resources isn’t merely a suggestion but an explicit party directive, the source explained.
According to the instructions, party officials are required to oversee farmwork in person. While the stated purpose is to ensure direct farm management, farmers typically view these officials as supervisors sent to monitor them.
While emphasizing the importance of preparing for rice transplantation, the committee also directed party organizations to support the repair of pumps and facilities with necessary materials.
“Farming areas must provide pump repair parts and basic materials like cement for renovating pumping stations. But ‘support’ is just a euphemism for shifting the burden onto individual people,” the source noted.
“Municipal and county party committees are assigning rural areas to specific agencies and organizations, making them responsible for providing necessary resources. They’re essentially using party organizations to deflect responsibility.”
Since May 10, residents of Ryongchon and Yomju counties in North Pyongan province have reportedly been mobilized for farmwork. Various agencies and organizations are forming worker teams to assist on farms under their responsibility.
There’s been discussion about using rice transplanters in some areas to accelerate work through mechanization during the rice planting season. However, worker mobilization remains the primary method in most regions, according to the source.
“Every year, we go through the same cycle of ‘battles’ – rice transplanting, weeding, and harvesting. Instructions keep accumulating, yet students, homemakers, workers, and even soldiers continue to be called up,” the source said.
“Young and old are mobilized for rice transplanting annually, while the burden of providing materials and manpower grows increasingly heavy. People can only hope for a good harvest to alleviate the food shortage,” the source added.
The May 8 edition of Rodong Sinmun featured an editorial titled “Let’s mobilize all resources and methods for transplanting rice.”
“Every citizen of this country – whether directly involved with agriculture or not – must make a meaningful contribution to reaching grain production targets and expanding agricultural output, not just through words but through practical action,” the newspaper stated.
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