A melon grown by a rookie startup farmer in Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk, has become a hot topic after fetching the highest price nationwide.
According to Gochang-gun on the 30th, at the Garak Market melon auction on the 28th, a melon produced by young farmer Baek Gyu-nam (Gochang-eup, 38) was sold at the highest price in the country.
On-site consulting for melon cultivation at Gochang-gun Agricultural Technology Center. [Photo by Gochang-gun]
On that day, Baek's first auction price for a box of four 8kg melons recorded the highest price of 52,000 won, marking the highest auction price among melons shipped in August this year. Baek lived in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, but moved to Gochang after being selected as a young farmer settlement target in Gochang-gun in 2022.
The Gochang-gun Agricultural Technology Center has been promoting on-site consulting by item since 2018 to help young farmers who have newly entered acquire cultivation skills. As a result, the cultivation skills of young farmers in the county are gradually leveling up.
Baek Gyu-nam said, "Since I was farming alone without any connections, I felt overwhelmed due to insufficient cultivation skills, but I was able to solve problems through on-site consulting tailored to the situation." He added, "I hope on-site consulting will continue to increase to help acquire cultivation skills in the future."
Hyun Haeng-yeol, director of the Agricultural Technology Center, said, "It is encouraging that the number of young agricultural entrepreneurs entering Gochang is increasing year by year," and added, "We will do our best to operate various programs so that young startup farmers can settle down stably."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
