Gangwon-do Supports Future Industry 'Pet Food' Manufacturing Farms

Priority Support of 387 Million Won for 4 Pilot Project Sites

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gangwon Province is stepping up support for pet food manufacturing farms within the province to foster the pet food industry, a future growth engine.

Gangwon Province announced on the 21st, "In response to social structural changes such as the increase in single-person households and nuclear families, we will pilot support for two projects with a total of 387 million KRW this year to establish a production base for rapidly growing pet food."

Gangwon Provincial Government

The support targets farmers or agricultural corporations within the province planning to produce handmade pet food, providing equipment necessary for pet food processing (grinding, mixing, weighing, packaging machines, etc.) and packaging materials.

Additionally, 3 million KRW will be provided to create experiential facilities aimed at fostering the 6th industry by linking with existing livestock experience farms, such as making handmade snacks directly.

The province plans to respond to market expansion by first providing pilot support for the production base of pet food manufacturers (those planning to register as manufacturers) in line with the growth of the pet food market.

In particular, marking the first year of the special autonomous province's launch this year, a separate budget of 58.5 billion KRW will be invested in measures for pet protection and welfare, animal quarantine, and livestock product hygiene and safety.

To efficiently implement animal quarantine, animal protection welfare, and livestock product hygiene and safety measures, and to revitalize the local economy amid recent inflation and difficulties, more than 70% of this year's budget will be promptly executed in the first half of the year.

The pet protection and welfare project aims to create a social culture where people and animals coexist by building pet support centers, protecting and managing abandoned and lost animals, and promoting pet companionship campaigns.

A provincial official said, "As the pet market (pet food) expands, we will thoroughly manage hygiene in raw material procurement and production processes at feed manufacturing sites to ensure pet food is recognized as food, not just feed."