Hapcheon-gun Launches Full-Scale Effort to Develop 3,000 Farmers with 100 Million Won Income

16,650 Farmers Achieve Income of 100 Million Won

Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is vigorously promoting projects aimed at nurturing 3,000 farmers with an income of 100 million KRW by 2025 under the slogan "Building a Young and Smart Agricultural Hub City Hapcheon" as part of the 8th term of the elected government’s pledge projects.

The county aims for phased growth with annual targets of 1,109 farmers in 2021, 1,500 in 2022, 2,000 in 2023, 2,500 in 2024, and 3,000 in 2025.

According to the county’s survey, as of December 31, 2022, the number of farmers earning 100 million KRW in agricultural income in 2022 reached 1,665, an increase of 556 compared to the previous year, achieving 55.5% of the target.

Garlic machine harvesting in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam.

By farming type, there were 555 livestock farmers, 420 engaged in mixed farming, 318 in open-field crops, 264 in facility crops, 69 in fruit farming, 37 in paddy farming, and 2 in special crops, with income being higher in the livestock and mixed farming sectors. By age group, there were 66 in their 30s, 130 in their 40s, 394 in their 50s, 649 in their 60s, and 417 aged 70 or older, with those in their 60s, who have a solid farming base and experience, accounting for a high proportion.

This income survey data was calculated based on 12,899 farming households registered as agricultural management entities, of which 6,068 farmers (47%) with a certain scale of medium or larger farms were analyzed. Using data from the KOSIS National Statistical Portal and the 2021 Agricultural Income Data Book from the Rural Development Administration, farm income (total agricultural income minus management expenses), transfer income, non-agricultural income, and non-recurring income were summed to calculate household income. The number of farmers earning over 100 million KRW was 1,665 (12.9%).

A county official stated, “In the future, based on farm income survey data, we plan to manage farmers by income levels divided into stages 1, 2, and 3 and the target achievement stage. We will do our best to support continuous nurturing through education and promotion for farmers by analyzing factors of high-income agricultural and livestock products and management cases.”