Agricultural Rehabilitation in Korea (Background Photo)

The 1954 harvest in Korea, like that of 1953, was of bumper proportions and provided a boost to the economy. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry figures, issued as the crop was being reaped, estimated the rice yield at 15 to 16 million suk (75 to 80 million bushels), a slight increase over 1953. Stammer grains, at 45 million bushels, were up 30 percent over last year. The United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency (UNKRA) has undertaken a diverse program of agriculture, forestry and fisheries rehabilitation. Thus, on the completion of 238 irrigation projects being carried out, it is anticipated that approximately 63,000 acres will be provided with completely controlled irrigation, making possible an increase of 27,000 metric tons every year in the production of polished rice.
To increase home-grown food supplies has been an important aspect of Korean reconstruction, often necessitating more productive methods. Greater and use of insecticides has led to production of healthier crops. [No exact date]