Rice to be donated abroad is transported on April 17, 2024, on trucks at the port of Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do Province. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Jihae

The government this year will take a leading role in alleviating the global food crisis by sending 150,000 tons of rice to 17 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Feb. 18 pledged the assistance through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to nine countries in Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau); four in Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Pakistan); three in the Middle East (Lebanon, Yemen and Syria); and one in Latin America (Cuba).

The first of the two shipments will be sent in April and the second in October through four ports -- Ulsan; Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do Province; Mokpo, Jeollanam-do Province; and Busan. The rice will be distributed to the recipients from July.

In 2009, Korea joined the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as the first nation to go from aid recipient to donor.

Since joining the Food Assistance Convention in 2018, Korea has donated 50,000 tons of rice every year. The nation doubled the volume to 100,000 tons last year for 7.67 million people in 11 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and this year's 150,000 tons will go to 8.18 million people.

Under a five-year plan for international agricultural cooperation (2025-29) announced in January, the government will gradually expand leading agricultural brand businesses such as the K-Rice Belt and smart farms.

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