A study on the process of spatial reduction of cotton culture in Korea since 1945

해방 이후 우리나라 면작농업 소멸의 지역적 전개과정

U.S. had given large amount of cotton to Korea as food aid program since 1945. This cotton aid had negative impact on cotton culture in Korean agriculture. Korean government used counterparts funds (sale proceeds of food aid) not for investment to agriculture sector, but for military budgets. And food aid on program type had influenced general economic policies, which neglected agricultural sector too. Anti-agricultural policy which was helped by U.S. food aid, had caused cotton cultivator an economic loss. So this economic loss had made many farmers abandon cotton culture. But in our times, cotton is cultivated for the purpose of domestic consumption in a few rural villages. The purposes of this study are 1) to analyze the process of spatial reduction of cotton culture since 1945 in regional contexts in Korea, and 2) to identify the function and meaning of cotton culture which does not pay off in agricultural region. Materials for acreage of cotton culture are acquired through the agricultural statistical year book(1952-1989) and census. To clarify the meanings of cotton culture, field survey are conducted in a rural village which is identified as only one where cotton was cultivated in 1993. In these contexts, this study has come to the following conclusions. In the period of under the rule of Japanese Imperialism (1910-1945), G. arboreum, species of cotton which was traditionally cultivated since 1364, had been driven out. And G. hirustun species, which is suitable for the production of highly qualified textile, has been hierarchically diffused by policy. In these period, regional structure of Korean agriculture was reorganized for the provision with food to Japan. Crops leading this dependent spatial structure were rice and cotton. So agricultural region, specialized with cotton, were distributed in the hinterland of the area which is specialized with rice. U.S. cotton aid to Korea began in 1947. U.S. took an interest in agricultural export because of her domestic surplus of cotton. Cotton aid is one mechanism by which U.S government developed agricultural market in recipient countries, Specially in the exchange rates, up-valuation of won to the U.S. dollars made domestic cotton more expensive than cotton imported, Production cost of domestic cotton is higher than Government's purchasing price of cotton which was also more expensive than price of cotton imported. Korean farmer could not help abandoning the cultivation of cotton, and this gave rise to spatial reduction of cotton culture. Spatially, cotton culture was abandoned in early stage of reduction in regions where stand at a disadvantage climatically, and in next stage in regions where other up-land crops which paid off in urban market, eg, fruits, could be cultivated. In the stage of extinction, cotton was cultivated only in area where G. hirustun species was originated in Korean peninsula. This region is not only suitable climatically for cotton culture, but is far away from urban market. Use of cotton produced is not for spinning, but for fillings of comforter. The main purpose of cotton culture in rural village is not for cotton yields, but for increase of production of seasame, which is grown together with cotton as mixed crops. Cotton product are used for domestic consumption and sold out to gin house. Though cotton culture is not paid off, farmer wanted to cultivate continuously for the cultural purpose, and they wanted the cotton culture promotion policy with the goverment subsidy.

본 연구는 우리나라에서 거의 소멸된 면화재배의 지역적인 축소 과정을 확인하고, 현재 농촌에서 이루어지는 면화재배의 의미를 파악하였다. 해방 이후 우리나라의 면방직 공 업은 원면도입으로 해외 원료 의존형 산업이 되었다. 환율정책으로 국내면 가격이 미국산 원조면보다 비싸지고, 정부의 식량증산 위주의 농업정책, 유통구조 등으로 인해 국내면의 재 배면적이 감소되기 시작하였다. 국내 면 재배 면적 감소의 지역적인 과정은 일차적으로 기 후조건이 면화재배에 불리한 지역에서 먼저 나타나 식량 밭작물로 대체되었고, 이후 재배 유인력이 더욱 약해짐에 따라 재배 발원지를 제외한 다른 지역에서는 거의 소멸되고 있었 다. 현재 농촌에서 면화는 이불솜 을 위한 자가 소비용, 식용, 약용외에 다른 작물의 생산성 을 높이기 위한 부작물로서 재배되고 있음이 확인되었다. 재배방법은 종래와 큰 차이가 없 이 행해지고 있었으며 노동집약적으로 생산되고 있다. 농민의 면화에 대한 애착이 강하고, 국내면으로 만든 이불솜을 선호하는 소비자들의 수요가 아직 있음이 확인되어, 정부의 정책 적인 배려와 함께 시장이 확보될 경우 국내면이 앞으로도 재배될 수 있는 가능성을 보여주 고 있었다.