Establishment of an Open Platform for Agricultural Data Collection, Processing, and Utilization
Training 30,000 Young Farmers by 2027
President Yoon Suk-yeol announced on the 5th that he will advance the agricultural information system based on smart agriculture data. He also pledged bold investments in core technology research and development for agricultural innovation and to domestically produce smart agricultural equipment and facilities.
On the same day, President Yoon attended the 9th Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting held at the Sangju Smart Farm Innovation Valley in Gyeongsangbuk-do in the morning. He stated, "To overcome significant challenges in rural areas such as population decline and climate change and to enable our agriculture to take a new leap forward, the spread of smart agriculture utilizing digital technology is absolutely necessary."
President Yoon also promised detailed support such as extending the repayment period for startup funds and lowering loan interest rates. He said, "We will ease financial burdens and expand living service support such as livelihood stabilization funds to create better rural communities. We will also expand education programs tailored to the conditions and levels of farmers and consulting to solve on-site problems so that farmers can participate in smart agriculture."
He particularly emphasized the establishment of an open platform capable of collecting, processing, and utilizing smart agriculture data. Regarding the advancement of the agricultural information system, President Yoon said, "We will make bold investments in core technology research and development to domestically produce smart agricultural equipment and facilities and raise our technological capabilities to the level of advanced countries."
On the same day, Minister Chung Hwang-geun of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs reported on the 'Agricultural Innovation and Management Stabilization Measures' aimed at propelling agriculture into a future growth industry. Minister Chung reported that to advance the agricultural workforce structure, a full-cycle customized support system will be established from the startup preparation stage to the growth stage to nurture about 5,000 young farmers annually, totaling 30,000 by 2027.
The government plans to significantly expand the target recipients of the farming settlement support fund for young farmers in 2023 (from 2,000 to 4,000 people) and increase the unit price (from the current 1 million KRW per month to 1.1 million KRW). Additionally, to digitally transform 30% of facility horticulture and livestock barns, the government will strengthen private sector capabilities including farmers, companies, and experts, and will work on spreading smart farms and building infrastructures such as data and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms.
Furthermore, the report included plans to gradually expand the agricultural direct payment system to 5 trillion KRW, support agricultural material prices, and establish a livelihood stabilization system for small-scale and elderly farmers to ensure smooth agricultural innovation. Measures to build income and management safety nets for small-scale and elderly farmers were also outlined. At the meeting, young farmers, representatives of farmers' organizations, and businesspeople attended to discuss and exchange opinions on nurturing young farmers, spreading smart agriculture, and stabilizing farm management.
Meanwhile, prior to the meeting, President Yoon visited a rental-type smart farm within the Sangju Smart Farm Innovation Valley, toured greenhouses where young farmers cultivate strawberries and cherry tomatoes, and encouraged the young farmers by personally operating the environment control system using ICT technology.
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