In North Korea's annual 'Fertilizer Battle' this new year, things are playing out differently. While collecting human waste has always been a major burden requiring full citizen mobilization, this year there's a new twist: rewards like money and tourist trips are being offered for meeting quotas. This has intensified the competition for human waste collection. (HONG Mari / KANG Ji-won)
◆People Waiting with Shovels Under Outhouses
In North Korea, where fertilizer shortages are chronic, the new year begins with the 'Fertilizer Battle' - collecting human waste for spring farming. Under quotas like 1 ton per worker, everyone from laborers to party officials is mobilized under the supervision of their workplaces, organizations, and institutions.
A reporting partner in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, reported that the first evaluation of the 'Fertilizer Battle' took place on February 15th: "There was chaos after they announced workers would receive money and 'labor support supplies' for meeting quotas. At public outhouses, it’s even said that someone might literally be waiting underneath with shovels. When someone spots an outhouse, they rush to collect, so neighborhood units are posting lookouts to prevent others from taking waste from their district."
※ 'Labor support supplies' refers to items like cigarettes, alcohol, and cooking oil given to those in physically demanding jobs like mining.
While competition for human waste has always been fierce due to high quotas, the addition of rewards has made it even more intense.
◆Resolving Double Assignments
Another change this year is the systematization of quota assignments. Previously, many households faced double burden from both workplace, institute or neighborhood unit quotas - for example, a husband needing to collect 1 ton through his workplace while his wife had to collect 500kg through the neighborhood unit. This year, the system has been streamlined to eliminate such overlapping assignments.
Additional incentives are also being offered. The source reports that "depending on how well organizations meet their quotas - whether workplaces or the Women's Union - they're offering sightseeing trips and rest area visits."
※The Women's Union (officially the Korean Socialist Women's Union) primarily consists of housewives without formal workplace affiliations.
However, ASIAPRESS could not confirm whether these changes are being implemented in other regions.
