Jeonnam Province to Invest 38.2 Billion Won in Livestock Facility Modernization Project

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province announced on the 11th that it will invest 38.2 billion KRW in the '2020 Livestock Facility Modernization Project' to secure competitiveness in the livestock industry through environmental improvements of livestock facilities.

This project supports ▲new construction and renovation of livestock facilities ▲relocation of livestock facilities ▲internal facilities such as feeding, watering, electricity, milking, and ventilation ▲external facilities such as quarantine, manure treatment, and equipment ▲landscape improvement facilities ▲solar power generation facilities, among others.

The support will be differentiated by interest rates according to farm size: 1% annual interest for small and medium-sized farms and 2% annual interest for large-scale farms. The repayment period is 5 years grace period plus 10 years, with 80% of the total project cost funded by national subsidies (FTA fund and Livestock Development Fund) as loans.

Recipients will be selected by the relevant city or county after reviewing applications based on budget status, eligibility, and support details, with final decisions made according to priority.

Additionally, the province plans to prioritize farms preparing for the 'Egg Sorting and Packaging Business for Laying Hen Farms,' which will be enforced on April 25, by selecting those that meet qualification requirements as priority candidates.

Park Dohwan, Director of Livestock Policy Division at Jeonnam Province, said, "Through this project, which improves productivity and livestock rearing environments, we expect an expansion in the production and supply of trusted livestock products by practicing environmentally friendly livestock farming." He added, "Selected farms are requested to complete the project within the period and cooperate to ensure the loan funds are executed."

Meanwhile, the Livestock Facility Modernization Project has been a key government policy since 2009, and Jeonnam Province has supported 1,524 farms with 326.4 billion KRW to date.

In particular, according to last year's survey of high-income farmers earning over 100 million KRW, among 5,166 farmers in Jeonnam, 1,974 farms (38.3%) were livestock farms, an increase of 184 farms compared to the previous year, accounting for the largest number of farms, 4% more than major crops such as food crops.

The province analyzed that the improvement of livestock environments and the scale-up of livestock farms, achieved through the ongoing livestock facility modernization project including facility improvements and automation, have significantly enhanced productivity.