North Korea mobilizes teachers to harvest potatoes and prevent another famine

In the shadow of the famine that ravaged the country in the 1990s, the North Korean regime Kim jong un mobilized teachers from Yanggang province, on the border with China, to harvest potatoes.

The announcement was made by a North Korean source in the region to the South Korean newspaper. Daily NK, specializing in North Korean issues.

It is not uncommon for North Korean teachers to be mobilized in the countryside of this communist country. But this time they will do it sooner than expected before the the urgency of the food situation, exacerbated by shortages and rationing.

Teachers, according to the source, are visiting the farms earlier than in previous years because a bad harvest is expected For this season. The provincial education ministry has assigned local teachers to comply with potato quotas effective September 25, 10 days earlier than in 2020.

The reason for this advance is that the provincial government fears that this year’s potato harvest is insufficient.

Droughts and lack of inputs worsen North Korea’s potato harvest

Early October is the optimum time to harvest potatoes, but authorities expect an insufficient season. That’s why they put teachers to work in the fields about 10 days earlier than last year.

Numerous farms have suffered damage from flooding or drought, or have not received fertilizer or manure properly, according to the newspaper.

With this scenario, teachers think that they will not be able to meet their potato quotas unless they start digging up the tubers early.

North Korean teachers ask their students for help

Some teachers ask their students to pay the money needed to harvest and transport the potatoes, according to the South Korean newspaper.

Sources indicated that in Hyesan, capital of Yanggang province, some primary schools collected 5,000 to 10,000 won North Koreans per student, between $ 5 and $ 10.

Meanwhile, according to the South Korean newspaper, colleges have collected more than 10,000 won per student. Kindergarten teachers who do not participate in the harvest have been asked to donate money.

“Teachers are mobilized for the potato harvest as the fall approaches,” the source said.

And he concluded: “The propaganda says that the education of future generations is an important project for the future. But in fact, with authorities unable to solve the rationing problems, teachers are reduced to simple farmers”.