Gurye-gun, Juseongchan Instructor Awarded 'Challenge Prize' in Agricultural Technology Extension Competition

Selected as a Public Official Contributing to the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas

Joo Seong-chan, an agricultural extension officer (Technology Dissemination Division) at the Jeonnam Gurye-gun Agricultural Technology Center, was honored with the Challenge Award at the ‘2023 Korea Agricultural Technology Dissemination Awards’ hosted by the Rural Development Administration.

The Korea Agricultural Technology Dissemination Awards recognize local rural development officials who have contributed to the advancement of regional agriculture and rural areas through agricultural technology dissemination and education and training projects.

Juseongchan, Instructor at Gurye-gun Agricultural Technology Center [Photo by Gurye-gun]

In the first round, quantitative and qualitative evaluations were conducted through document screening; in the second round, field evaluations involved peer officials and local farmers’ public opinion verification; and in the final third round, various experts conducted verification and Q&A sessions. The winner was decided based on a comprehensive assessment of these stages.

Extension officer Joo Seong-chan demonstrated progressive and outstanding initiative in various fields, including ▲operating a management practice rental farm for young farmers ▲disseminating technology to reduce physiological disorders in summer cucumbers in Gurye ▲promoting vertical cultivation technology to reduce labor in watermelon farming ▲disseminating mechanized labor-saving garlic cultivation technology ▲establishing a pilot cultivation complex for mint income generation, earning recognition for his contributions.

In particular, Joo contributed to the promotion of smart agriculture in Gurye-gun by establishing management practice rental farms and smart farms to reduce labor and increase production, as well as spreading smart agricultural technologies through smart farm nutrient solution demonstration cultivation.

Additionally, Joo established and educated a research group in the horticultural crop field, conducted annual on-site consulting to resolve farmers’ difficulties, and has been leading the development of agriculture in Gurye-gun.

Joo Seong-chan expressed his award acceptance remarks, saying, “I will continue to actively promote various projects that can enhance the competitiveness of agriculture in Gurye-gun and do my best for the development of local agriculture.”

Park Geun-gyu, director of the Gurye-gun Agricultural Technology Center, said, “I am proud that Joo Seong-chan’s creativity and passion have been recognized, and we will continue to strive to cultivate agricultural extension officers with expertise.”

Gurye = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Mi-seok hss79@asiae.co.kr