In North Korea, authorities have intensified inspections of potato harvests in Ryanggang province, a key agricultural region. Inspectors have been meticulously examining the fields to ensure no potatoes are left behind, with farm managers at collective farms being the focus of these checks. According to sources within the agricultural sector, the inspections are thorough, with officials investigating every part of the potato fields to ascertain the completeness of the harvest.
The underlying issue prompting these inspections is the allocation of time by farmers to their personal plots over the collective ones. In the collective farming system of North Korea, farmers receive a government salary and produce is distributed by the state. However, the economic downturn since the 1990s has forced farmers to cultivate personal plots for additional food or income. This shift in focus has led to less attention being given to the collective farms, with some farm managers admitting to a lackadaisical approach to harvesting.
The government's response has been to dispatch inspection teams to enforce thorough harvesting practices. A 20-member team was sent to Hyesan City for this purpose. The consequences of failing these inspections can be severe, including expulsion from the Workers' Party, loss of housing and employment benefits, and even imprisonment. This has instilled a sense of fear among farm officials, prompting them to ensure the harvest is complete, even if it means remobilizing labor, including students, to meet the inspectors' standards.
This situation highlights the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in North Korea, where the balance between collective responsibilities and personal survival strategies is closely scrutinized by the state.
Source: Radio Free Asia