Tangerine greenhouse farmers on South Korea’s Jeju Island are increasingly turning to smartphone-controlled irrigation systems. (Image courtesy of Mamkkot Garden)
JEJU, Feb. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Tangerine greenhouse farmers on South Korea’s Jeju Island are increasingly turning to smartphone-controlled irrigation systems, marking a significant shift toward smart farming in the country’s prominent citrus-growing region.
A consortium including the Namwon Agricultural Cooperative in Jeju, the Jeju ICT Cooperative, and smart farm developer Mamkkot Garden has been selected for the government’s 2025 data-driven smart agriculture expansion project, officials announced on February 14.
The initiative will enable 120 tangerine farmers to monitor their greenhouses remotely and manage multi-schedule irrigation systems through their mobile phones. The system, covering 396,000 square meters of greenhouse space, will be installed between March and October, with each farmer receiving support for 3,300 square meters.
The technology includes soil moisture and temperature sensors, greenhouse temperature monitors, eight-channel irrigation controllers, electronic valves, flow meters, and water level sensors connected to the internet. Farmers can receive real-time alerts through social media platforms and respond to changing conditions instantly via their smartphones.
“This smart irrigation system will help farmers adapt to climate change and develop data-driven techniques for producing high-quality tangerines,” said Ko Il-hak, head of the cooperative. “We plan to expand these new cultivation technologies based on operational results and technical improvements.”
The expansion of the initiative follows a successful pilot program last year, where 43 farms installed similar systems. Young farmers in particular have benefited from the technology, with several managing their greenhouses in southern Jeju remotely from their homes in the northern part of the island, significantly reducing time and expenses.
Each participating greenhouse will be equipped with monitoring capabilities and multi-schedule management systems. The Jeju ICT Cooperative, drawing from its experience with the pilot program, will provide training to new participants.
The project is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, reflecting the government’s broader push toward agricultural modernization.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
