Children collect potatoes from a farm in North Jeolla Province on June 21, 2022, during an experience event organized by the Rural Development Administration, in this photo provided by the administration.
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Municipal governments are competing to attract more people returning to farming and rural areas as part of efforts to address their population crisis.
The South Chungcheong provincial government recently decided to set up a large smart farm complex by investing 43.6 billion won (US$33.7 million) by 2025 on reclaimed land in Seosan to cultivate young farmers.
It aims to provide young people with a stable farming foundation by lowering the initial investment cost and entry barriers.
Gangwon Province earmarked 93 million won this year to Kangwon National University to outsource consulting for those returning to farming or rural areas as well as to provide education programs for farmers.
Starting this year, Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province will subsidize the cost of purchasing agricultural machinery, greenhouse equipment and seedlings for households returning to farming and rural areas.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to operate a long farm stay program for about 130 villages in 102 cities and counties this year.
A total of 882 urban households took part in the program last year, of which 125 moved to rural areas.
Experts stress that to keep the trend of returning to farming and rural areas active, it is important to make it easier for those who are interested to settle in farming villages.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
