S. Korea's rice production costs rise 3.7 pct

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- Production costs for growing rice in South Korea
jumped 3.7 percent in 2008 mainly due to an increase in the price of fertilizers,
a government report showed Monday.

According to the report by the National Statistical Office (NSO), South Korean
farmers spent 629,677 won (US$447.53) to grow rice on a 1,000-square meter paddy
last year, compared with the 607,354 won a year earlier.
Total direct costs including fertilizers jumped 7.6 percent, while indirect
spending such as land-leasing charges declined 1.1 percent, the report showed.
Fertilizer prices surged 26 percent.
Despite an hike in production costs, the NSO reported that farmers' overall
income surged thanks to higher rice prices and increased amount of production.
The average income of farmers came to 623.742 won per 1,000-square meter paddy
last year, up 27.3 percent from a year earlier.
As of the end of February, South Korea has around 3.18 million farmers, according
to government statistics.
kokobj@yna.co.krr
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