Gimhae City Systematically Supports Returning to Farming and Rural Areas to Increase Rural Population and Boost Vitality

Prospective returnees to farming and rural residents are experiencing rural life through activities at the return-to-farming and rural living experience farm in Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province, is establishing a counseling system for return-to-farm and return-to-village migrants and promoting customized support projects for each stage of returning to farming to increase the rural population and revitalize the area.

According to Gimhae City on the 21st, starting in March, through the operation of the Return-to-Farm and Return-to-Village Support Center, customized phone and text message services will be provided to those who apply for online and telephone counseling according to the information they want.

The operation of the Return-to-Farm and Return-to-Village Support Center is expected to help urban residents who find it difficult to find support projects and educational information related to returning to farming and rural living.

The support projects for each stage of returning to farming are carried out in four stages: intention to settle, preparation for migration, execution of migration, and settlement after migration.

The intention to settle stage provides opportunities for urban residents interested in returning to farming and rural living to experience rural life in advance through support for activities such as local artist programs for returnees, living experience programs in rural areas, Little Forest Farm operation support, and small but certain happiness rural tours for return-to-farm and return-to-village migrants.

In the preparation for migration stage, return-to-farm and return-to-village mentors and mentees operate, and short-term technical schools are run to allow hopeful returnees to receive farming diagnosis from senior returnees and professional farmers, and to be educated on overall farm management including crop selection and agricultural technology practice.

The execution of migration stage supports agricultural start-ups and housing purchases for returnees, and provides stabilization support for returnees. It helps new returnees with insufficient funds by providing practical financial support to assist agricultural start-ups and supports agricultural education and consulting after start-up.

The settlement after migration stage helps new returnees settle stably in rural areas through activities such as operating returnee study groups, supporting talent donation to rural communities by return-to-farm and return-to-village migrants, supporting direct transactions of agricultural products by returnees, and creating happy housing for returnees.

Return-to-farm and return-to-village hopefuls and migrants who wish to participate in the project can select and apply for projects that match their stage.

A Gimhae City official said, “We hope this project will contribute to the inflow of population and revitalization of rural areas,” and added, “We will reflect various opinions in policies and carry out return-to-farm and return-to-village programs tailored to local conditions.”