North Korea has launched its annual “manure battle,” with fertilizer production and transportation now in full swing across the country.<\/p>\n
“In Hyesan and throughout Ryanggang province, all organizations – including government agencies, companies, schools, and branches of the Social Women’s Union of Korea – have received manure quotas and been assigned specific farms for delivery,” a source in the province told Daily NK on Jan. 10.<\/p>\n
The collection process varies by organization, according to the source. While agency and company workers collaborate on production and transportation, members of neighborhood watch units must produce manure individually and only work together during transport.<\/p>\n
At one Hyesan company, workers must dig frozen excrement from public bathrooms after morning assembly and deliver their collections to farms every few days.<\/p>\n
Market vendors face additional restrictions – they cannot begin trading until 2 p.m., after completing their mandatory manure transport duties. “Entry to the marketplace requires a certificate confirming farm delivery,” the source explained. “Women who depend on market sales have no choice but to make these daily trips.”<\/p>\n
The source described the toll on young participants: “It’s heartbreaking to watch teenagers trudging to the farms under loads of manure, making two-hour trips in freezing weather that leaves their hands too cold to flex.”<\/p>\n
While North Korea mobilizes its entire population for this annual manure campaign aimed at boosting agricultural output, food shortages persist. Critics say the mandatory collection only adds to the burden on ordinary citizens.<\/p>\n
“People are understandably frustrated about being mobilized for manure production when they can barely feed their families, despite government claims of exceeding agricultural targets year after year,” the source noted.<\/p>\n
The campaign’s impact is visible across North Hamgyong province, where long lines of wheelbarrows can be seen as all organizations participate in collection and transport.<\/p>\n
“Since the year began, there’s been heavy emphasis on agriculture, with orders to mobilize everyone for fertilizer production,” a source in the province said. “Every city and county road is lined with fertilizer-filled wheelbarrows.<\/p>\n
“In Chongjin, the streets are full of manure carts each morning as people rush to meet their individual quotas at local farms,” the source added.<\/p>\n
North Hamgyong authorities have intensified oversight this year, requiring workers to submit farm certificates to their organizations proving quota completion. However, many residents, familiar with the annual campaign, prepared in advance by purchasing and storing night soil underground to meet their quotas more easily.<\/p>\n
The province has notably praised party and government officials for taking the lead in this year’s production efforts.<\/p>\n