A severe spring planting crisis has gripped North Korea as fuel shortages paralyze agricultural machinery. The government issued priority fuel and electricity instructions for farms during the 2026 planting season. Nevertheless, many collective farms cannot secure even the minimum diesel needed to run tractors. Consequently, this spring planting crisis forces workers to till fields by hand or with livestock. A Daily NK source in North Pyongan province reported these developments on Friday. Farms near county seats fare somewhat better, but remote areas struggle enormously. The transportation costs of purchased fuel add another layer of difficulty.
Market fuel prices have surged sharply in recent months, worsening this spring planting crisis. Many farms cannot afford to run agricultural machinery at current market rates. After buying essential supplies like plastic sheeting, seeds, and tools, no budget remains for fuel. Therefore, remote border areas including Pyokdong and Sakju counties in North Pyongan have suffered most. Usi county in Jagang province also faces extreme hardship. Workers now carry out plowing and harrowing by hand, work normally done by tractors. A tractor could finish a single day’s task, but manual labor takes several days. Consequently, this spring planting crisis dramatically increases the physical burden on farm workers.
Farmers express open frustration, complaining that conditions are killing people. The spring planting crisis delays plowing, fertilizer application, and paddy field preparation. Workers end up pulling plows like oxen because no fuel exists. Authorities press farms through propaganda to complete planting on schedule, adding pressure. Nevertheless, manual labor risks pushing planting past the optimal window. Late planting could reduce crop yields significantly at harvest time. The source noted that even if workers complete planting through forced manual labor, harvest problems will inevitably follow. North Korea routinely orders priority fuel allocations, but actual supplies fall far short of needs.
Farms in remote areas cannot easily access market fuel sources, worsening this spring planting crisis. The government emphasizes mechanization, but reality shows no fuel to run machines. Workers suffer immensely from the gap between policy and practice. Looking ahead, the harvest may face serious shortfalls later this year. North Korean authorities have not announced any emergency measures to address the fuel shortage. The spring planting crisis could thus threaten food security across multiple provinces. Observers worry that delayed planting will compound existing economic difficulties. For now, farm workers continue their grueling manual labor under mounting pressure from above.
