Gyeongnam Nonghyup Selects Two Couples for 'New Farmer of the Month' Award

Northern Nonghyup Kim Jindeok & Imisuk, Upo Nonghyup Yang Ilsu & Seo Yeongsuk Couple

Gyeongnam Nonghyup announced on the 12th that two couples, Kim Jin-deok and Lee Mi-sook from Bukbu Nonghyup, and Yang Il-su and Seo Young-sook from Upo Nonghyup, were selected as the recipients of the September "New Farmers of the Month" award, which is selected and awarded by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation.

The couple Kim Jin-deok and Lee Mi-sook (Ddalbuja Farm), members of Bukbu Nonghyup in Geochang, Gyeongnam, are farmers who have been cultivating high-quality apples based on 33 years of extensive farming experience.

Geochang Northern Nonghyup couple Kim Jin-deok and Lee Mi-sook. [Image provided by Gyeongnam Nonghyup]

The award-winning couple are first-generation members of Top Fruit in the Geochang district. They are active members of Irolo, a Gyeongnam-certified premium brand. They also played a pivotal role in forming the apple farming group around Sambongsan in Goje-myeon, Geochang County. They continue to work diligently as members of the farming group, striving to improve farm income.

The couple has received the Excellent Award from the Rural Development Administration in the apple category of Top Fruit and the Grand Prize in the National Certified Agricultural Food Premium Competition. They were recognized as "New Farmers of the Month" for their leading role in community development, including donating prize money from various competitions to the Arim 1004 Movement.

The couple Yang Il-su and Seo Young-sook (Yeongil Farm), members of Changnyeong Upo Nonghyup, are farmers who have been cultivating rice and garlic for 27 years, achieving high annual income.

Yang Ilsu and Seo Youngsuk, a couple who are members of Changnyeong Upo Nonghyup. [Image provided by Gyeongnam Nonghyup]

The award-winning couple actively led the establishment of the Seonggok Eco-friendly Agricultural Complex, producing pesticide-free rice and garlic. They have also received an encouragement award in the Eco-friendly Agriculture Awards. They practice pesticide-free farming themselves, considering the health of consumers in their agricultural management.

The couple was appointed as members of the Gyeongsangnam-do Green Monitoring Group, where they introduced and acquired new farming technologies and passed these techniques on to members of eco-friendly organizations who share the same vision, significantly contributing to the improvement of farm income. They were recognized as "New Farmers of the Month" for these efforts.

The "New Farmers of the Month" award is given by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, selecting and awarding 15 to 16 couples nationwide each month from among the best leading farmers and livestock producers.