The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to establish a new agency tentatively named the 'Korea Livestock Promotion Corporation' by integrating three existing organizations: the Korea Animal Products Quality Evaluation Institute, the Animal Disease Control Support Headquarters, and the Livestock Environment Management Institute. This initiative aims to streamline support for livestock farmers by consolidating hygiene, disease control, environmental management, and quality control functions.
On September 9, the ministry announced that this integration is part of its efforts to efficiently reorganize the functions of public institutions under its jurisdiction and enhance field-oriented agricultural policy services.
Currently, livestock-related tasks are distributed across various agencies at different stages of production and distribution. The Korea Animal Products Quality Evaluation Institute handles smart livestock and traceability at the production stage, while the Animal Disease Control Support Headquarters manages hygiene and disease control. The Livestock Environment Management Institute is responsible for managing livestock waste and odors. In the distribution phase, the Animal Disease Control Support Headquarters supports slaughter inspections, and the Korea Animal Products Quality Evaluation Institute oversees grading and traceability.
The ministry noted that the division of responsibilities has hindered effective information sharing and coordination among agencies, causing inconvenience for livestock farmers who must identify the appropriate agency for each task.
To address these issues, the ministry plans to unify the field support functions scattered across the three agencies, enhancing service quality by linking hygiene, disease control, environmental management, and quality functions. It also aims to improve organizational efficiency by consolidating overlapping administrative support functions and deploying personnel more effectively to strengthen on-site responsiveness.
Additionally, the ministry is pursuing a plan to integrate the Korea Rural Community Corporation with the Agricultural and Fishery Education and Culture Information Center (Agricultural Policy Center). This integration focuses on strengthening the connection between agricultural talent development and welfare projects. The Agricultural Policy Center supports education and settlement assistance for young farmers, while the Rural Community Corporation provides scholarships for agricultural students and welfare projects for rural communities and farmers.
Although the Rural Community Corporation met the criteria for public institution designation due to government funding, it has not been designated as such because it is a small organization with only 11 employees, thus lacking obligations for management disclosure. The ministry plans to reduce costs and eliminate management blind spots through the integration with the Agricultural Policy Center.
The ministry aims to strengthen the support system for aspiring farmers, young farmers, and professional farmers by linking the scholarship program of the Rural Community Corporation with the youth support initiatives of the Agricultural Policy Center. It plans to connect the operational and management functions of the Agricultural Policy Center with the fundraising and distribution functions of the Rural Community Corporation to expand talent development and welfare projects.
Starting this month, the ministry will form a 'Integration Promotion Task Force' to develop specific reorganization plans. It intends to gradually implement necessary procedures, including adjustments to agency functions and amendments to laws and regulations, while ensuring job security for employees and improving their compensation and welfare. The ministry will also communicate with labor unions to address potential challenges and support measures during the integration process.
Furthermore, to facilitate the integration of the three livestock agencies, the ministry will draft the 'Korea Livestock Promotion Corporation Act' and revise related laws, including the Livestock Law, the Animal Infectious Disease Control Act, and the Livestock Waste Management Act. Regarding the integration of the Rural Community Corporation with the Agricultural Policy Center, the ministry will pursue amendments to the 'Basic Law on Agriculture, Rural Communities, and Food Industries' to adjust the scope of the Agricultural Policy Center's operations.
Park Soon-yeon, head of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, 'This integration of public institutions is significant in efficiently linking dispersed functions to reshape agricultural policy services centered on demand. We will establish a field-oriented agricultural delivery system to create tangible changes that farmers and the public can feel.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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