Hampyeong-gun, All-Out Effort to Foster High Value-Added Livestock Industry

Reorganization into a Single 'Livestock Department'... Enhancing Expertise and Strengthening Competitiveness

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Chunsu Kim] Hampyeong County is making every effort to focus on fostering livestock farming as a future high value-added industry.

According to the county on the 8th, a budget of 64.9 billion KRW will be invested to strengthen the competitiveness of livestock farming and implement various livestock policies.

As of the end of last year, the number of cattle (Hanwoo, beef cattle, dairy cattle), the main livestock species in Hampyeong County, was about 54,000 heads, ranking within the top 5 among 22 cities and counties in the province.

According to the Rural Development Administration, the gross income of Hampyeong's major livestock farming households (cattle, pigs, poultry) (1,496 households) is estimated at 990.2 billion KRW, and the average annual income per household excluding operating expenses is about 120 million KRW.

This figure is three times the average monthly income of wage workers in 2021 (3.271 million KRW), which is why Hampyeong County is focusing on securing competitiveness in livestock farming.

Accordingly, the county plans to foster livestock farming as a key industry responsible for the region's future food resources by establishing a low-methane forage comprehensive distribution center and implementing customized livestock competitiveness enhancement projects for farms.

In addition, while focusing on creating an eco-friendly livestock environment such as reducing livestock barn odors and promoting animal welfare-oriented green livestock farming, the county will also pursue zero livestock infectious diseases by installing quarantine infrastructure and operating base disinfection facilities.

Efforts will be made to nurture livestock farms for branding Hampyeong Cheonji Hanwoo as a premium brand, as well as to expand the forage production base through projects that activate the use of domestic forage, focusing on Hanwoo cattle development.

Kim Hwandong, head of the Livestock Division, said, “Since the organization has been reorganized into a single department, the Livestock Division, we will devote all our capabilities to the development of livestock farming,” and added, “We will do our best to foster eco-friendly livestock farming that can coexist with residents.”