North Korea is shifting rice cultivation from flooded fields to dry ones, revealing the extent of the drought and the regime’s nervousness about this year’s crop.
North Korea is expanding rice cultivation in dry fields irrigated by rain or artificial systems instead of traditional flooded paddies, the AFP news agency, citing TASR, reported with reference to the country’s state media. According to experts, the move indicates the ongoing drought and the North Korean leadership’s concerns about this year’s agricultural production.
- North Korea is expanding rice cultivation in dry, irrigated fields.
- The move comes amid ongoing drought and crop concerns.
- Dry farming of rice is used when there is a lack of water for paddy fields.
- The country suffers from chronic food shortages and an inefficient economy.
- About half a million tons of food is missing in North Korea every year.
The state news agency KCNA announced on Tuesday that such a method of cultivation is being rapidly introduced in several regions of the country. Already in April, KCNA reported on the “unusual” and “severe” drought that affected the DPRK, and in May, the state media drew attention to unfavorable conditions in South Hwanghe province in the west of the country.
Signal of concern
Experts point out that dry-field rice cultivation is usually used when there is a shortage of water for traditional flooded paddies. According to their assessment, the expansion of this method may mean that Pyongyang is worried about a fall in the harvest in the second half of the year.
The country has long suffered from chronic food shortages and an inefficient centrally managed economy. The situation is further aggravated by international sanctions imposed on the DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs, which limit the regime’s ability to obtain resources from abroad.
Permanent shortage of food
The UN special rapporteur for human rights in North Korea, Elizabeth Salmon, stated in February that the lack of food is one of the most serious humanitarian problems in the country. According to her, expert estimates indicate that approximately 500,000 to one million tons of food is missing in the DPRK every year.
