풍요의 역설, 양파 농가의 눈물과 지속 가능한 농업의 과제 > K-wave Trends

The onion market is currently facing a serious challenge: a price collapse caused by oversupply. According to observations by the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the production yield of mid-to-late maturing onions this year is expected to increase by up to 8.8% compared to an average year, causing local prices to plummet to 35% of the level seen in the same month of an average year. Farmers are in despair as the produce they have carefully grown fails to fetch a fair price, and as the situation continues where they cannot even cover production costs, some are giving up on harvesting or resorting to dumping. This price decline is evolving beyond a temporary phenomenon caused by high supply into a structural problem that fundamentally threatens the sustainability of farm management.

An even more painful reality is the "price reversal phenomenon," where domestic onions lose out to imports even in terms of price competitiveness. In the past, imports served as a supplementary resource when domestic supply was insufficient, but now, even with sufficient domestic production, the food service and food industries are choosing imports for their superior quality and ease of use. In particular, the shift in demand within the industrial sector toward pre-processed agricultural products, such as peeled or sliced onions, is fueling the entrenchment of imports. The prevailing analysis is that because domestic onions have a storage pattern where quality degrades and weight loss occurs over time, they are losing competitiveness compared to standardized, easily processed imports.

To overcome this crisis, the National Assembly, the government, and producer organizations are putting their heads together to seek solutions. Experts point out that short-term supply adjustments, such as simply isolating onions from the market, have limitations and are calling for fundamental improvements in the industry's constitution. There is a strong consensus that bold investments in post-harvest storage and pre-processing technologies must be accompanied by the selection and distribution of superior varieties and the advancement of cultivation techniques to lower production costs. In particular, opinions are consistently raised through forums that it is urgent to prepare practical policies, such as supporting processing facilities that reflect the needs of the food service industry and increasing the ratio of contract farming for producers.

Meanwhile, on-the-ground movements to help farmers in crisis are unfolding actively. Nonghyup is putting its full effort into securing sales channels by operating "Kind Consumption Campaigns" and direct-trade markets on a national scale. In particular, special discount events centered around Hanaro Mart are creating a virtuous cycle that goes beyond simply lowering prices; for every purchase of agricultural products, a mutual growth fund is accumulated to help vulnerable social groups. These efforts provide immediate sales outlets for farmers and offer consumers the opportunity to purchase fresh, seasonal produce at reasonable prices, demonstrating an exemplary case of mutual growth between agriculture and the local community.

In the Jeju region, as the harvest season begins, direct-trade markets offering new garlic and new onions at reasonable prices are being actively held. The Jeju headquarters of Nonghyup is contributing to increasing farm income by reducing intermediate distribution stages, connecting consumers directly with high-quality agricultural products selected and dried by the producers themselves. As part of the "Farmers' Heart, Heaven's Heart" movement, this serves as a valuable window for producers and consumers to communicate directly and rediscover the value of our agricultural products. These direct-trade markets hold great significance beyond simple sales events, acting as a venue for solidarity where the difficulties faced by our rural areas are shared and supported by the local community.