Haenam County establishes a Sweet Potato Research Center and develops premium specialty products. (Photo by Haenam County)
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan) announced on the 20th that it has established the 'Haenam Sweet Potato Industry Comprehensive Development Plan' to produce the highest quality sweet potatoes and increase consumer satisfaction, and will invest about 29.7 billion KRW by 2025 to promote a total of 26 projects covering production, distribution, and processing.
In particular, there are plans to establish the Haenam Sweet Potato Research Center to cultivate new varieties of Haenam sweet potatoes and research and disseminate production technologies, which will serve as an advanced base leading the premiumization of Haenam sweet potatoes.
The Haenam Sweet Potato Research Center, to be established by 2023, plans to develop superior varieties specialized for Haenam to replace foreign sweet potato species, conduct research on stable production technologies to cope with quality degradation caused by weather disasters and pests, and promote research and development of processed products. Equipped with research facilities and open-field test plots, it will create a foundation for premiumization including production, processing, and food material development of Haenam sweet potatoes.
Additionally, through the comprehensive development plan, the foundation for stable production of superior sweet potato seeds will be established, and production and post-harvest management will be subdivided through facility and technology support such as sorting, washing, and curing to standardize quality and enhance marketability.
A structured and scaled sweet potato producers' cooperative will be established to systematize distribution management for small-scale farming households and build a comprehensive quality control system that unifies distribution channels.
The current processing and semi-processing ratio of sweet potatoes, at about 10%, will be expanded to around 30%, and sweet potato exports will increase from the current 70 tons to 300 tons. Along with product development and fostering of food materials and semi-processing industries, the export-specialized production complex will be expanded to 200 hectares by 2025.
Haenam is the largest sweet potato production area in Jeollanam-do, producing about 34,000 tons annually from 600 farms and 1,964 hectares of cultivation area, accounting for 10% of the national cultivation area.
Haenam sweet potatoes, grown on loess soil rich in germanium and exposed to sea breeze, have high sugar content and are rich in dietary fiber and minerals. They are registered as Geographical Indication Agricultural Product No. 42, recognized for their quality.
Meanwhile, since last year, Haenam-gun has been actively promoting projects to establish a foundation for premiumization by establishing a comprehensive development plan through in-depth meetings with farmers, producer organizations, and distribution industry stakeholders regarding the development of the Haenam sweet potato industry.
Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan stated, "Haenam sweet potatoes, recognized nationwide for their top status, are preparing for another leap forward by establishing a comprehensive development plan covering quality, distribution, and processing," and added, "It is expected to be an opportunity to enhance the reputation of Haenam sweet potatoes loved by the entire nation as well as improve farmers' incomes."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
