Helping Settlement and Getting Good Potatoes... Nongshim Supports 'Cheongnyeon Nongbu'

MOU with Nongjeongwon for Young Farmers
4th Year Since 2021... Supporting 10 Selected Participants
685 Tons of Potatoes Purchased Over 3 Years... "No Worries About Sales Channels"

Nongshim continues to support young farmers this year as well.

On the 19th, Nongshim announced on the 20th that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the ‘Together with Young Farmers’ program with the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (EPIS), under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, at its headquarters in Dongjak-gu, Seoul.

Together with Young Farmers is a social contribution project that Nongshim launched in 2021 as the first in the domestic food industry to help young return-to-farmers settle and engage in farming activities. Starting this year, Nongshim changed the program name from the previous ‘Cheongnyeon Sumi’ to ‘Together with Young Farmers’ to provide broader support for young return-to-farmers.

On the 19th, the MOU signing ceremony for the 2024 'Together with Young Farmers' program between Nongshim and the Rural Development Administration was held at Nongshim headquarters in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. From the left in the photo: Kim Bogyu, Head of Nongshim Management Planning Office, and An Jaerok, Deputy Director of the Rural Development Administration. Photo by Kim Bogyu

Now in its fourth year, the program selects 10 young farmers and supports the entire process from starting potato farming to selling the harvest.

Selected participants receive advance contracts and advance payments before starting farming to create stable conditions for agricultural activities. During the cultivation process, a mentor-mentee system is established between excellent producers and young farmers to transfer know-how, and education on seed potato storage and management methods, as well as on-site support during sowing periods, is provided.

If young farmers successfully complete the program and harvest quantities exceeding the contract amount, Nongshim will purchase the entire production if desired. This support allows them to focus on acquiring potato farming expertise without worrying about sales channels.

Over the past three years, Nongshim has purchased a total of 685 tons of potatoes through the young farmers program. In particular, in 2023, it achieved a significant result by purchasing 325 tons, more than twice the target amount. The purchased potatoes are used to produce potato snacks such as Potato Chips, Sumi Chips, and PosTic.

A Nongshim official said, “The young farmers program is a win-win project that helps young return-to-farmers settle while allowing Nongshim to secure high-quality potatoes,” adding, “We will continue to carry out mutually beneficial activities where young farmers and Nongshim grow together.”