급송문서 (152) - 1948년 하곡 예산 생산량

NO. 152 DIVISION OF THE FOREIGN [illegible] ASIAN AFFAIRS [illegible] .OF THE [illegible] [illegible] UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [illegible] 1948 [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] (Grains & Feeds [illegible] [illegible] DEPARTMENT [illegible] Code #40A636) [illegible] ADMINISTRATION [illegible] Office of Economic Advisor Hq. XXIV Corps, APO 235, DC c/o PM San Francisco, Cal. Seoul Korea, 5 June 1948. SUBJECT: 1948 SUMMER GRAINS THE HONORABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE. WASHINGTON. SIR: I have the honor to forward eight copies of the National Crop Reporting Board's May 5th estimate of 1948 summer grain acreage and production, which was released by the Department of Agriculture, SKIG, on 25 May 1948. This crop estimate was developed from data submitted by the National Crop Reporting Board's field reporters and supplemented by field surveys made by five teams of Korean and American technicians from the National Department of Agriculture during the period 23 April - May 1948. The acreage planted in summer grains (barley, naked --- p453 --- Barley, wheat and rye) as of 5 hay 1948 was estimated to be 1,957,025 acres (798,460 chungbo). This planted acreage is an increase of 76,505 acres (31,214 chungbo), or 4.1% over the area from which summer grains were harvested in 1947. However, it is only 69.3% of the 1940 - 1944 average. Production of 1948 summer grains was estimated on 5 May to be 764,534 metric tons (6,626,692 suk) of rough grain. This is equivalent to 672,688 metric tons (4,737,271 suk) of polished grain. The above estimate is 26.1% above 1947 production, but is only 71.1% of the 1940 - 1944 annual average output for South Korea. Estimated yield per acre for 1948 summer grains is substantially above the 1947 average, and is approximately equal to the 1940 - 1944 annual average. These statistics indicate that the government's long-term program to increase the planted acreage of summer grains up to the all-time peak levels of 1940 - 1944 is thus far making disappointingly slow progress. Since substantially more commercial fertilizer was available in 1948 than in previous post-war years (reference Seoul Polad Despatch No.62, 23, March 1948) it was hoped that 1948 planted acreage would more closely approach pre-1945 levels. Some American advisers in the Department of Agriculture feel that this May estimate of summer grain acreage may be under-reported by as much as 10%. However, many farmers apparently decided to utilize their as yet insufficient supply of commercial fertilizer to produce the best possible 1948 rice crop, rather than to divide the available fertilizer between two crops, summer grains and rice. The 1948 yields per acre of barley, naked barley, wheat, and rye, are estimated to be 25%, 16%, 19%, and 11% respectively, above 1947 yields per acre. This sharp increase in yields is attributed to the greater availability of commercial fertilizers, plus generally favorable growing conditions at the time of the field checks (up until 5 May). However, there was very little rain in most of South Korea during the month of May, and recent field reports indicate that this prolonged dry spell has adversely affected the crop and that the actual harvest may be below this pre-harvest estimate of yield. The Department of Agriculture will conduct widespread field checks to determine the actual yield at harvest time during the latter part of June and in early July. Meanwhile, the National Food Administration is proceeding with plans to collect a minimum of 120,000 metric tons of polished grain, or equivalent, in the 1948 summer grain collection program, which is scheduled to get under way in July. The South Korea Interim Government has increased the prices to be paid the farmers for ingrade summer grains approximately 10% above 1947 prices as-follows: --- p454 --- Commodity Bag Weight (kilograms) 1947 Purchase Price 1948 Purchase Price Rough barley 42 480 530 Naked barley 60 740 810 Wheat 60 800 880 Rye 54 520 630 In order to make the 1948 summer grain collection program self-liquidating, it is planned to increase the present prices of barley, wheat, and rye to consumers by slightly more than 10% in July 1948. There is considerable sentiment among the recently elected members of the Consultative Assembly (including Dr. Hoon K. Lee, former Director, Department of Agriculture, SKIG, who is being considered for the same post in the new Korean Government), to increase the prices to be paid farmers for 1948 summer grains above the recently approved levels. It is the contention of this group that it is unfair to the farmers to increase the prices paid for 1948 summer grains only 10% above 1947 prices, especially since the 1947 prices were only about 10% above 1946 prices. These individuals point out that while over-all price levels have increased at least 150% in the past two years, the prices paid to the farmers have been increased only slightly more than 20%. Those individuals defending the present price level contend that at present the farmers are in arelatively better economic position than are most urban residents, and that further increased prices -- to the farmers would only increase the present inflationary [illegible] pressure and agree that more goods should be made available to the farmers at controlled prices, if possible. However, it appears unlikely that any substantial amount of such goods, except commercial fertilizers, salt, and sugar, will be available for distribution to the farmers during the summer of 1948. Respectfully yours, Arthur J. Bunce Minister