AGRICULTURE OF THE YONAN AREA, NORTH KOREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004300720010-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2005
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: June 18, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT Agriculture in the Yonan Area,
North Korea
25X1 DATE OF INFO.
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This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
Sag of Title 18, Sections 793 'nd 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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1$ June 1954 25X1
T
Duties of a Farmers' Union Chief.
1. In North Korea the chief of a village Farmers' Union is elected by the
village People's Committee. He receives no compensation for performing
the duties of chief of the Farmers' Union, a position he holds in addition
to making his own living. His duties include:
a. Checking the local farmers; tools and other equipment and reporting to
the gun People's Committee on the condition of the equipment and on
shortages.
b. Reporting on the condition and shortages of cattle and other draft
animals, and making plans for the cooperative use of such animals.
c. Ascertaining the amount of seed needed by the farmers and obtaining an
adequate supply.
d. Encouraging farmers to plant and transplant seeds at the correct time
and to work in the rice fields collectively,
e. Determining the adequacy of each family's supply of food, arranging a
government loan of grain in case of need, and collecting the amount of
the loan at the next harvest.
f. Overseeing the weeding and cultivating of crops, and a rapid and timely
harvest.
g. Encouraging the prompt payment of taxes-in-kind.
Estimating the Yearly Rice Harvest
2. In January of each year the village People's Committee appoints men to
encourage the farmers to increase their production norms, to make a survey
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of the prospective harvest, and to estimate the probable amount of production.
The estimators do not have to be Labor Party (LP) members. Prior to appointing
them, the committee consults the local farmers regarding their choice of
appointees. In the past, because the estimators lacked technical training and
were under pressure by their superiors, some farmers were required to pay an
unjust amount of taxes-in-kind as a result of poor estimates. some of
these defects had been eliminated, with a resultant decrease in dissatisfaction
and complaint by the farmers. The men selected had had many years of farming
experience and were trusted by the villagers. The survey of the prospective
harvest is begun in August and the estimate made in September-, usually about
20 days before the harvest. In Honam-ni (N 37-52, E 126-09) (BS-5094) a
team of seven estimators is appointed. Accompanied by a gun-leader and the
owner of the rice-paddy farm, the ten decides which area of the farm has an
average crop, and(-chooses one p'yong on which to base an estimate. There are
usually 85 stubs in one p'yong, an average stub containing 19 plants. The
number of plants in various stubs is counted and an average taken to indicate
the prospective rice harvest from one p'yong. The gun-leader then calculates
the total amount of the prospective harvest on a chart. Such estimates have
proved to be remarkably close to the actual harvest. After the harvest, a
committee consisting of the village and the gun People's Committee members
makes a survey to compare the estimate with the actual harvest. In cases in
which the estimate is less than the harvest, the estimators are required to
perform the task again in the presence of the committee.
Tractor Ploughing Stations
25X1 3. he North Korean government established a tractor ploughing
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station for every few farm villages. Since that date it has been required
that all rice-paddy land be ploughed by tractor, the only exception being
fields in narrow mountain valleys. in the Chabong-ni (BS-4995)
area, it was rumored that another tractor was to be imported so that the dry
fields would also be ploughed by tractor. The station for Honam-ni and
Chabong-ni is at BS-492954 in two thatched-roof buildings, each 24 by 15 feet,
which are used as offices and quarters for the tractor operators and helpers.
Six tractors imported from the USSR are hidden at BS-491958 under large
chestnut trees, in a mountain valley 500 yards north of the office. Each
tractor resembles an army tank to which five sets of ploughs are attached.
A driver sits in front and a helper who controls the ploughs sits in the back.
At the station are a manager and five clerks. At the tractor concealment site
is a large supply of petroleum which is always guarded by a clerk, armed with
a Japanese Type-99 rifle. The station employees wear a uniform closely
resembling a North Korean Army (NKA) uniform, but without insignia. The
tractor helper also carries a Japanese rifle while working in the fields.
The fee for tractor ploughing of 3,000 p'yong of land,2 which is paid to the
gun Food Administration Section after the autumn harvest, is 60 kilograms of
rice for the first ploughing and 40 kilograms for the second.
Finances of a Farm Family
4. In Yonan-gun3 the North Korean government allots an average farm family of
five or six people 3,000 p'yong of rice-paddy land and 500 p'yong of dry
field on which the farmers usually plant millet. On this land, in a good
year, a farmer produces 3,375 kilograms of rice and about 130 kilograms of
millet. The usual fees on the rice crop include: 911 kilograms (27 percent)
as taxes-in-kind; 100 kilograms for the tractor ploughing fee; 236 kilograms
(7 percent) for irrigation; and 50 kilograms for one bag of chemical fertilizer.
The farmer then has 2,078 kilograms (61 percent) of the rice for his own use.
After the rice is refined he has 22 bags of rice, of 78 kilograms each. The
rice-refining fee is 5 percent of the finished product, or one bag, which
leaves him 1,638 kilograms or 21 bags of refined rice. He pays 23 percent
of his millet crop as taxes-in-kind, leaving him about 100 kilograms, or one
bag of refined millet. Thus,'the farm family has about 21 bags of rice and
one bag of millet on which to live for the year. An average family consumes
15 bags of grain yearly, but since they cannot live on the income to be
derived from ,selling the 7 remaining bags, they usually sell about 11 bags
of rice and with the proceeds buy a cheaper grain, subsisting on that and a
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smaller quantity of rice. Eleven bags of rice bring about 44,000 won which
constitutes the family's yearly monetary income. The ordinary farmer does
not earn any side income. A very few have ox-carts and earn a small addi-
tional income by transporting goods for other people.
5. The basic yearly requirements of an average farm family are:
AMOUNT COST (in won)
Grain, such as barley or wheat 7 bags 17,000
Petroleum oil for lamps 5 bottles (4/5 gal.) 2,000
Shoes, rubber 1 pair for each member 3,000
Tobacco 1,000
Cloth for clothing 20 yards 8,000
School supplies, for children 2,000
Local government tax 800
Rice 3,000
Contributions to the local LP and NKA 500
After the farmer has met all the required expenses, he has left about 7,000
won which must serve the family for all miscellaneous and emergency expenses.
Yonan Public Market
6? the only public market in Yonan was at BS-498982. (See Attachment
or commodity prices in Yonan.) A government store is at the east entrance of
the market and a consumers' guild shop at the center of the market. There are
about 10 shops which sell cloth, 8 selling rubber shoes, and about 30 selling
miscellaneous consumer goods such as fish, grain, vegetables, earthenware,
metal ware, farm equipment, and cattle. Fish and grain are usually sold in an
open-air store with a canvas top and mats on the ground. Most of the items
in the market are farm products and other everyday consumer goods produced in
North Korea. Some cloth (particularly cotton goods), towels, toilet articles,
and cosmetics from China are available. The market is crowded during the day-
light hours, particularly on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th days of
each month, the traditional market days. Anyone wanting to open a shop in the
market makes application to the Finance Section of the Yonan-gun People's
Committee which, upon approval, assigns him a site in the market place,
depending on the type of business in which he plans to engage. He must build
his own store.
7. Luxury goods such as watches, radios, and cameras are not seen in the market.
There is one watch shop, but it has only a few second-hand watches, its main
business being repairs. There are no drug stores, although some medicines can
be purchased illegally outside the market place. Penicillin is becoming more
and more difficult to obtain. Lamp oil, an important item to farmers, is
also very difficult to obtain, and the situation has not improved since the
armistice. The oil is sometimes sold in the government store, but the quantity
available does not meet the demand. On occasion, lamp oil may be obtained in
the black market. One gallon of lamp oil costs about 1,500 won in the govern-
ment store and about 2,500 on the black market. Castor oil has been substituted
for machine oil, since machine oil, which is essential during the harvest season
for lubricating wheels and axles, is unavailable.
1 omment. When the North Korean Government eliminated the myon and
formed larger village administrative areas, Sokch'on-ni (BS-538931),
Songya-hi (BS-5oo910), and Kaehyon-ni (BS-507941) were combined into one
administrative district called Honam-ni.
2. Comment. One p'yong is equal to 3.95 square yards; and 3,000 p'yong
is 2-1/2 acres.
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3. Comment a result of the administrative reorganizatio
n Yonbaek-gun was renamed Yonan-gun which now contains
omment. According to available information, Yonbaek-gun was
divided into Ch'ongdan-gun, Paekch'on-gun, and Yonan-gun,
1.L ?IComment. Even though a farmer does not smoke himself, he furnishes
tobacco to the people who engage in the collective work on his farm.
5. Comment. When the farmer is away from his home working on special
labor projects., he furnishes his own rice.
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ATTACHMENT
Commodity Prices in the Yonan Market
COMMODITY
PRICE
IN NK WON
Rice
9.02 literal
420
Glutinous rice
9.02 liters
470
Millet
9.02 liters
420
Beans
9.02 liters
210
Beans, red
9.02 liters
420
Beans, green
9.02 liters
530
Sorghum
9.02 liters
210
Buckwheat
9.02 liters
210
Soy sauce
.4 gallon)
70
Bean paste
1.8 liters1
6o
Bean oil
1.8 liters
500
Pepper (powder)
3.75 kilograms)
1,200
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Salt
1 kilogram
100
Tunny, raw
3.75 kilograms
1,000
Pollack, dried
20 kilograms
400
Stonefish (sic)
10 kilograms
300
Laver, seasoned
10 sheets
60
Beef
600 grams)
250
Pork
600 grams
300
Chicken
1
600
Egg
1
25
Cabbage
3.75 kilograms
200
Radishes
3.75 kilograms
150
Garlic
350
Apples
3.75 kilograms
200
Pears
3.75 kilograms
300
Rice, cooked
1 bowl
50
Noodles, cold
1 bowl
50
Pudding, Chinese
1 bowl
100
Wine
1.8 liters
350
Wine
1.8 liters
575
REMARKS
These grains are locally
produced and sold by the
farmers to the general
public. The Consumers'
Guild also purchases grain
in order to control the
market price, and later
sells the grain during the
lean months of July and
August.
Government store price.
Government store price.
Government store price.
salt had suddenly
become scarce, so the price
was high.
Caught in streams.
Caught on the east coast.
Caught on the west coast.
In July when cabbage is most
abundant, the price is 70 won.
In July the price is 100 won.
When garlic is being harvested,
the price is 300 won.
At harvest time, 130 won.
At harvest time, 200 won.
Bootleg wine.
Sold in Government stores. It
is made from chemicals, rather
than from grain, and has a
very poor taste.
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COMMODITY
PRICE
Clothing and Materials
Skirt, satin silk 1
10,000
Waist, silk, two colored 1
3,000
Shirt, cotton 1
1,500
Undershirt, cotton 1
900
Underpants, cotton 1
600
Trousers, serge, U.S.
uniform 1
2,000
Shirt, serge, U.S. uniform 1
3,000
Underwear, U.S. 1
3,000
Socks, men's 1 pair
300
Socks, women's 1 pair
1+00
Towel 1
300
Towel 1
200
Shoes, rubber, black, 1 pair
600
men's
Shoes, rubber, white, 1 pair
800
men's
Shoes, rubber, black, 1 pair
1,0002
men's
Shoes, rubber, white, 1 pair
1,2002
men's
Shoes, rubber, white, 1 pair
1,2002
women's
REMARKS
New. Made in Japan.
New. Made in Japan.
Made in China.
Made in China. Sold in the
Government store, when
available.
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Many people who work for the
government are seen wearing
United States uniform shirts
and trousers.
Made in China.
Made in China.
Made in China.
Made in North Korea.
Made in North Korea of second-
hand rubber.
Made in North Korea of second-
hand rubber.
Made in South Korea.
Made in South Korea.
Made in South Korea. Women's
shoes are in short supply.
Shoes, rubber and leather, 1 pair
1,200
Made in China. The sole is
men's
rubber and the shoe is pig
skin
Shoes, working
1 pair
500
.
Made in China. A shoe custom-
arily worn by farmers.
Sheeting, cotton, white
1 yard
400
Made in China. Most of the
Sheeting, cotton, black
1 yard
400
sheeting used by farmers was
imported from China.
Cotton, hand-woven,
1 ro113
2,000
The hand-woven cotton used
finest quality
primarily in villages was
Cotton, hand-woven,
1 ro113
1,500
made in South P'yongan
medium quality
Province. No Korean cotton
was seen in the market after
1953.
Yarn, woolen
1 pound
Made in China. The yarn was
available in the market, but
was not used by the villagers.
Thread
180 feet
300
Rayon cloth
1 yard
300
It is a coarse cloth made in
North Korea.
20 feet
2,000
Produced in North Korean silk
Mille.
Cloth, Korean hemp
1 ro113
1,600
Hand-woven in North Korean farm
villages.
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COMMODITY UNIT
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PRICE
Miscellaneous goods
Soap, toilet 1
300
Soap, toilet 1
300
Soap, laundry 1
300
Cream, face 1
500
Powder, faces 1
300
Toothbrush 1
30
Toothpaste 1
30
Soda 3.75 kilograms
5,000
Cigarettes 1 box
20
Cigarettes 1 box
300
Cigarettes 1 box
50
Tobacco 600 grams
250
Pencil 1
50
Pencil 1
30
Paper, thin white 1 sheet
100
Paper 1 sheet
80
Fountain pen 1
2,000
Shove
l
400
Hoe
100
Axe
200
Nails
, one-inch 600 grams
400
Nails
, two-inch 600 grams
250
Bucke
t 1
300
Kettl
e, Korean 1
3,000
Cup,
glass 1
100
Bowl,
porcelain 1
100
Dish,
porcelain 1
100
Jar,
earthenware 1
300
Ox
1
6o,ooo
Ox
1
50,000
Pig
1
5,000
Pig
1
4,000
REMARKS
Made in China.
Made in South Korea.
Made in China or in South
Korea.
Made in North Korea.
Made in North Korea'.
Made in North Korea.
Made in North Korea.
Smuggled from South Korea.
Rarely seen.
Made in North Korea.
Made in China. The trade mark
is Chonchin. Although they
are inexpensive, the farmers
do not smoke them because
they do not burn well and
have a poor taste.
Made in China. Good quality.
Made in North Korea.
Grown in North Korea. Since the
armistice, North Korean
tobacco has been widely used
by the -public .
Best quality.
Medium quality.
Made in North Korea.
Made in China.
Made in North Korea of second-
hand iron.
Made in North Korea of second-
hand iron.
Made in North Korea of second-
hand iron.
Made of old tin plate.
Since they are no longer being
made, they are in short supply.
Large enough to pull an ox-cart.
Smaller size.
Domestic. Large.
25X1 1. Comment. .. : 2 liters is about 1.03 pecks, or one small mal; 3.75 kilograms
Is a oout -4 pounds, or 1 kwan; 600 grams is about 1 kun; 1.8 liters and .4
gallon is about 1 toe.
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2.1 omment. The price of black and white rubber shoes smuggled from
orea seems to have become considerably lower. In December 1953 the price
ranged from 1500 to 2000 won a pair.
25X1 3. Comment.
No indication was given as to the quantity contained in one roll.
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