Fall potato rations are being handed out in
North Korea’s Yangkang Province, but the quota stands
at less than half of last year’s, the Daily NK has
learned. The drop in supply is likely due to the drought in early spring and
lack of overall rainfall.
A Yangkang Province-based source told the
Daily NK on Monday, “The handouts began this month for
autumn potatoes.” She said, however, “Last year, a six-month supply of rations was distributed for each
family member, but this year, the head of each household has received two
months’ worth, while other members only received one
month’s worth.”
“For homemakers, one month’s supply makes up for roughly 40 kg, while for householders, a
two-month supply is roughly 150 kg,” the source
elaborated. With the lurch in quota, residents are already troubled about next
year, she explained, as to North Koreans, potatoes are considered the second
most important staple after rice.
After fall potato harvest, residents go out
to dig for individual potatoes that may have gone undetected: usually, support
troops, who are largely unfamiliar with farming, are mobilized for for
harvesting efforts and miss potato bulbs buried deep underground.
However, people have not even been able to
reap the yield they used to from this process, the source said, a signal that
this year’s harvest has dwindled significantly compared
to last year.
“Last year, going out for a follow-up sweep
in the fields produced roughly 100 kg in a day, but this year, even after a
full day of work, it’s hard to gather 30 kg,” the source explained. “Since the harvest is
not very good, there aren’t many hidden in the ground
either, so few have managed to salvage missed potatoes.”
“The state potatoes are not sorted well, so
there’s a mixture of big and small potatoes– and even
some rotten ones. This is why vendors sell them for a cheap price, because they
require a lot of work,” she asserted. “Some people have been going out of their way to buy state potatoes,
which are almost half the price of those sorted and sold by size.”
Potatoes that have gone through this process
of categorizing by size and quality, sell for 1,200 KPW per kilogram at the
market, according to the local source. State potatoes go for about half that at
550 KPW, so they sell out almost as soon as they hit the market. This year, the
price of potatoes in fall has increased by 300 KPW, up from its previous cost
of 900 KPW per kilogram. The source speculated that the substandard supply will only
add to the probability of rising prices.
According to the source, some residents
have said, “It’s a relief they
at least gave us something,” while others have
commented on the 40 kg handout to homemakers, saying, “even
going and working somewhere would yield that amount [40 kg].” She concluded, “Getting something is always
better than nothing, so most do care about getting what rations they can.”
