This May 2009 photo shows North Korean farmers planting rice in a field in Kapung County, North Hwanghae Province. Korea Times file

By Jung Da-min

North Korea is making early preparations for this year's cropping season, the ruling Workers' Party of Korea mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun reported Wednesday.

Farmers at the Manpoong cooperative farm in Chungsan County, South Pyongan Province, have started digging holes before spring for corn planting, its editorial said.

"Different scenes are observed at the Manpoong cooperative farm in Chungsan County that is going all out to prepare for this year's farming," it said. "Every field is getting on with preparation for a high yield sooner than last year."

It said although last year's cereal production increased thanks to the "assembly-planting" of corn, the harvest could have been bigger if hole digging had been completed before spring.

"As a result of digging holes in the busy farming season at the farm focusing on rice paddy farming, it was not possible to produce fertilizers and other farming materials as we planned," it said.

The editorial came as the party encourages farmers to go all out to achieve this year's cereal production target.

On Wednesday, Rodong Sinmun published articles focusing on the country's agricultural situation, highlighting fertilizer production, fruit production and scientific farming methods that could prevent damage from droughts and floods.

According to the South Korean government's Rural Development Administration, North Korea's cereal production in 2018 dropped by 3.4 percent on the previous year, to 4.55 million tons, due to a heat wave and floods.