▲ The participants in the panel discussion

The East Asia Provincial Government Agriculture Forum 2015 was held from September 14 to 16 at the Literary Art Hall of the Chungcheongnam-do Government.

Themed “Role of Local Governments in the Promotion of Agriculture, Agricultural Community, and Farmers,” the forum was organized to raise awareness of the vision and value of agriculture and agricultural communities in the 21st century, discuss the direction of government policies regarding agriculture, agricultural communities, and farmers and role of local governments, and build partnerships and expand cooperation between the local governments of Korea, China, and Japan in the field of agriculture.

Representatives of local governments of East Asian countries have usually met in Shizuoka, Japan, but this is the first official forum that brings together the local governments of East Asia to talk about the subject of agriculture.

The forum was attended by over 1,000 people including Governor An Heejung of Chungcheongnam-do, Mayor Lee Choon-hee of Sejong Metropolitan Autonomous City Government, Governor Song Ha-jin of Jeollabuk-do, Governor Shogo Arai of Nara Prefecture, Governor Heita Kawakatsu of Shizuoka Prefecture, Vice Director Han Xinghai (韓興海) of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Director Phung Dakyuan (馮德遠) of Yanbian Prefecture Committee Policy Department, Deputy Commissioner Wen Yinxue (文引學) of Shanxi Provincial Department of Agriculture, and Mo Yunhua (莫云？) from Shanghai Department of Agriculture Management.

Six representatives of the local governments of Korea, China, and Japan had a discussion in the form of a talk concert.

During the discussion presided over by Governor An, the panel shared their thoughts on problems faced by the central and local governments of their respective countries with regard to agriculture, agricultural communities, and farmers as well as specific cases of policies, experiences, and visions to find solutions.

“Agriculture, agricultural communities, and farmers are the backbone of the national economy of any country. Governments need to make serious efforts to increase the profitability of agriculture by developing better varieties, ensuring food safety, promoting environment-friendly agriculture, preserving the ecological value of agriculture as an industry and as a community, and expanding government subsidy,” Governor An said.

He also stressed the role of the government and local communities in coping with issues in agriculture, agricultural communities, and farmers. “Just as the same medicine can have different effects on different patients when prescribed differently according to the varying needs of individual patients, the problems facing today’s agriculture require customized approaches and prescriptions by the government and private sector as they work closely together to address issues unique to the circumstances of their agricultural industry and community,” he explained.

The forum had three sessions: “sustainable agriculture,” “agricultural community for all,” and “farmer-centered agricultural governance.” The panel discussion was led by Kim Ho, the Chairman of Samnonghyeoksin Committee (committee on the innovation 3 agricultural sectors).

The forum ended with a field trip on the last day to Mundang Ecology Village and Gatgol Village in Hongseong-gun, Oeam Folk Village in Asan, and Baekje Historic Areas in Gongju and Buyeo.

The forum is expected to strengthen cooperation further between the local governments of the three East Asian countries, which have a lot in common in terms of history and culture; thus facilitating information sharing and new value creation in the field of agriculture.