국민의힘 이만희 의원(농림축산식품해양수산위원회 국민의힘 간사, 영천·청도)은 지난 25일‘농업인 재난지원금’이 포함된 2021년제1회 추가경정예산안이 국회 본회의를 통과했다고 밝혔다.

▲ 이만희 의원     ©

이만희 의원에 따르면, 0.5ha 미만의 토지를 가진 농업인 46만가구에 각 30만원의 재난지원금이 지급될 예정이다.

전 농업인 재난지원금 지급은 이번 추경 예산안의 막판 쟁점이었다. 여야 모두 공감대를 형성했으나 재원마련 방안에 이견이 보이면서 팽팽히 맞섰고, 논의 끝에 심각한 어려움을 겪고 있는 0.5ha 미만 소농에 재난지원금을 선별 지급하고 추가 국채발행은 하지 않는 것으로 합의했다.

이만희 의원은 이번 추경안의 농업인 재난지원금 지급을 위해 전방위적 활동을 펼쳐온 것으로 알려졌다. 농해수위 예산결산심사소위원장으로서 농식품부와 여야 의원들의 중지를 하나로 모았고, 국민의힘 지도부와 한농연 등 농업인단체와의 간담회 주도, 국민의힘 농해수위원들과 성명서 발표 등 농업인 재난지원급 지급을 위해 최일선에서 많은 노력을 기울여 왔다.

또한 농업인 재난지원금이 여야 협상의 쟁점으로 떠오르자 24일 밤, 이만희 의원은 주호영 원내대표 등 협상의 키를 쥔 핵심 인사들을 수차례 직접 찾아 논의와 설득작업을 이어갔다.

어렵게 국회를 통과한 이번 추경안에는 농업인 재난지원금을 포함해 농어업인들을 위한 총 2,401억원의 예산이 증액 반영됐다.

농식품부 주요 추경 증액 내역을 살펴보면, ▲0.5ha 미만 소농에 재난지원금 1,380억원(각 30만원, 축산농가포함) ▲코로나 피해품목인 화훼, 친환경, 겨울수박, 말, 농촌체험휴양마을 274억원(각 100만원) ▲농번기 아이돌봄방 14억원 등이 반영됐다.

해수부는 ▲도서·접경지역 2만 어가를 대상으로 재난지원금 64억원(각 30만원) ▲코로나 양식피해어가 29억원(각 100만원) ▲ 일반항로 연안여객선사 운항결손금 50억원 등이 국회 본회의를 최종 통과했다.

이만희 의원은 “이번 추경에 농업인 재난지원금이 포함되기까지 정말 많은 고비와 진통이 있었지만, 함께 노력해주신 농업인 여러분들의 격려와 응원으로 모든 역량을 집중해 부족하지만 뜻깊은 성과를 거둘 수 있었다.”면서, “재난지원금을 포함한 이번 추경 예산이 코로나와 자연재해 등으로 큰 피해를 입은 우리 농업인들에게 조금이나마 위로가 되었으면 한다.”고 소감을 밝혔다.

아울러, “우리 농업은 코로나 피해에 대한 그동안의 현장과 국회차원의 수차례 요청에도 정부의 지속적인 무시와 홀대를 받아왔던 것이 사실”이라며“이번 재난지원금 지급을 기점으로, 향후 농업이 생명산업, 국가 기간산업으로서의 위상을 바로세우고 예산과 정책 모든 측면에서 대우받을 수 있도록 최선을 다해 노력해 나가겠다.”고 전했다.

<아래는 구글번역기로 번역한 기사 전문이다.>

 Passed the National Assembly plenary session of the supplementary bill including the farmers' disaster subsidy

People's Strength Rep. Lee Man-hee (Agricultural, Forestry, Livestock, Food, Marine and Fisheries Committee, People's Strength Secretary, Yeongcheon-Cheongdo) announced on the 25th that the first supplementary budget bill in 2021, which included “farmers' disaster assistance,” passed the National Assembly plenary session.

According to Rep. Man-hee Lee, 300,000 won of disaster assistance will be provided to 460,000 farmer households with less than 0.5 ha of land.

Disaster subsidies for former farmers were a last-minute issue in this supplementary budget. Both the ruling and opposition parties formed a consensus, but they met with disagreement over the plan for financing. After discussions, they agreed to selectively pay disaster subsidies to small farmers less than 0.5ha, who are experiencing serious difficulties, and not issue additional government bonds.

Rep. Man-hee Lee is known to have been carrying out all-round activities to provide farmers' disaster subsidies in this supplementary plan. As the Chairman of the Budget and Settlement Examination Committee of the Agricultural and Marine Water Supervisory Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the ruling and opposition lawmakers gathered in one, led a meeting with the People's Power Leadership and farmer organizations such as the Hannongyeon, and the People's Power A lot of effort has been put into place.

In addition, as the farmers' disaster subsidies emerged as an issue of negotiations between the opposition parties, on the night of the 24th, Rep. Lee Man-hee personally visited key figures in the negotiations, such as Ho-young Joo, and continued to discuss and persuade them several times.

In this supplementary bill, which passed the National Assembly with difficulty, a total budget of 240.1 billion won for farmers and fishermen, including the disaster support fund for farmers, was reflected in an increase.

Looking at the major additional increase of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, ▲Disaster subsidies for small farmers under 0.5ha (300,000 KRW each, including livestock farmers) ▲ Corona-damaged items such as flowers, eco-friendly, winter watermelon, horses, and rural experience resort villages of 27.4 billion KRW (each 1 million won) ▲ 1.4 billion won was reflected in child care centers during the busy agricultural season.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries ▲ Disaster support funding of 6.4 billion won (300,000 won each) for 20,000 fishermen in the islands and border areas ▲ 2.9 billion won (1 million won each) for corona aquaculture victims ▲ 5 billion won in operating deficit for coastal passenger ships on general routes, etc. Passed.

Rep. Man-hee Lee said, "There were a lot of troubles and pains until the farmers' disaster subsidies were included in this supplement, but with the encouragement and support of the farmers who worked together, we were able to achieve a meaningful result, though insufficient by focusing all our competencies." “I hope this supplementary budget, including the disaster subsidies, will be a little consoling to our farmers who have been heavily damaged by corona and natural disasters,” he said.

In addition, "It is true that our agriculture has been continuously ignored and neglected by the government despite several requests from the field and the National Assembly for corona damage." “We will do our best to establish our status as a key industry and receive treatment in all aspects of budget and policy.”