Two years have passed since North Korea introduced the bunjo [cooperative farm production unit] system in parts of the country, falling under policies outlined in the “June 28th Measures," but farmers have reportedly not been able to receive their full shares of the yield, the Daily NK has learned. This is because shares are being calculated based on production targets as opposed to actual output, according to a local source. 

“People were told according to the pojeon [smaller division of bunjo units] managing system and the bunjo system, they would be able to profit more compared to the cooperative farm system, so they worked even harder,” the Yangkang Province-based source told the Daily NK on Wednesday. “But that was all talk, and now farmers aren’t receiving their proper shares.” 

North Korea stipulated in its “June 28th Measures” plans for the state to establish a “new economic management system in its own style.” Under the new system, production units on cooperative farms shrank from groups of 10-25, to smaller factions [pojeon] of 4-6 members. The state receives 70% of the target production, with farmers taking 30% and any surplus if targets are exceeded.   

The measure was put in place in order to guarantee more autonomy for the farming units and encourage better production by differentiating farmers’ shares according to output. According to the source, the change was expected to provide greater stability in people’s livelihoods, but the reality has proved much different. 

“Most farms in Bochon County have to report their planned output per pyeong [1 square meter is equal to 0.3025 pyeong] of land and this has lead to the lack of redistribution,” the source explained. “Last year, in the case of potatoes, most pojeon were unable to harvest even 15 tons. Based on the planned output of 18 to 21 tons-- depending on the fertility of land-- that’s a 20 percent shortfall.” 

Municipal, county, and provincial party cadres, concerned about the prospect of being held accountable if unable to meet the annual quota laid out by the Ministry of Agriculture, report their figures exclusively using the numbers from pojeon with exceptionally favorable output. Because of this, false figures have been accumulating over the years [targets are based on a moving three-year average of production], raising the bar for production and seeing farmers fall victim.

The source noted that some of these farmers, initially pleased with the systematic changes promising them 30 percent of total production, are now cursing them. “Now the distribution system is based on the state quota, so areas that had a bad harvest aren’t able to receive anything,” he said. 

Citing a case from Hwajon Farm in Bochon County, he reported that 500kg in potatoes, 80kg of corn, and 180kg of wheat and barley were divvied up among three people. “This amount comes to roughly the equivalent of annual food rations for 1.2 people ,” he said, noting that last year’s drought and dearth of sufficient fertilizer rendered wreaked havoc on production levels.   

He added that despite the fact that most bunjo comprise members of the same family, suggesting potential for working more systematically, production did not see the dramatic rise that was predicted, and the lackluster surplus means there is even less to go around. 

Naturally, many residents are frustrated about the results, concerned about how to get by if rations are lower than prior to the onset of the bunjo system. “We worked double to meet the target, but how can we not have any return?” they have pointed out.