농업직불금 제도의 정책구조와 집행 분석: 충남지역을 사례로

Abstract

This study analyzed the policy structure of agricultural direct payment in South Korea and reviewed at its implementation status based on case examples in the Chungnam. The research results are as follows; First, in outline of the policy structure of agricultural direct payment, externally it appears to seek a direct payment system for public good in the broader concept. However, in reality, the payment seeks it for income support in the narrower concept, showing the contradiction between formality and substance. In the current direct payment, narrower-ranged purposes and broader-ranged purposes are mixed together. Most policy beneficiaries were rack of awareness and concern about that. Second, the policy input was studied herein for the agricultural direct payment system. It was found that all of its support was provided for every agricultural area(ha). This means that the direct payment coverage is determined by agricultural areas. In the fixed direct payment for rice, its support standard has an upper limit in agricultural areas. However given the South Korea’s average cultivation area of each farm household is 1.6 ha (as of 2014), the payment standard is ineffective. Third, the policy implementation was reviewed at herein of the agricultural direct payment. The support period is up to 1 year and renewed every one year. It is also criticized for dual supervision and control system. Forth, the policy performance of agricultural direct payment was investigated. As a result, the payment was concentrated on several specific crops and the implementation performance was found lower in direct payment for field farming, disadvantaged areas, and organic farming. Fifth, the policy feedback of agricultural direct payment was examined. Most of the policies were found to have no mean of control and required to complement the follow-up evaluation system which was implemented as the satisfaction survey. This needs to be improved. Since the support payment is operated on the yearly basis, it comes to have unnecessary structures such as practical means of control, performance and follow-up evaluation. Lastly, as to the policy beneficiaries of agricultural direct payment, double benefit receipts are not allowed for the same land. Since multiple payments are operated under a limited budget, individual farmers receive only small amount of the direct payment. For these reasons, the direct payment is criticized for its insufficient contribution to farming household income.