Increasing Budget to Support Farmers' Income and Improve Quality
Gwangju City is significantly expanding its support for the cultivation of the local specialty, 'Mudeungsan Watermelon'.
On the 23rd, Gwangju City announced that it has established a 'Three-Year Mudeungsan Watermelon Cultivation Plan' and increased its budget support by approximately 4.5 times, from 110 million KRW last year to 496 million KRW this year.
Mudeungsan Watermelon, cultivated in the pristine nature at the foot of Mudeungsan Mountain, is a popular 'Gwangju specialty' known for its excellent quality, unique sweetness, and crisp texture. However, the aging of Mudeungsan Watermelon farmers and rapid climate change have put its continued production at risk.
Last year, the city formed a dedicated task force (TF) to devise measures for fostering Mudeungsan Watermelon. According to the cultivation plan, considering that the number of Mudeungsan Watermelon farms has sharply decreased from 30 farms (12 ha) in 2000 to 7 farms (2.5 ha) this year, the city will increase the production incentive from 770 KRW to 1,950 KRW per square meter to compensate for the low income of farmers. Additionally, the city will support shading and heat-blocking facilities to respond to climate change, as well as soil conditioners to prevent continuous cropping disorders.
To improve seed quality, the city will move away from the self-seeding method, which can lead to seed degeneration, and instead have the dedicated task force and experts enhance quality through superior seed trial fields. The Mudeungsan Watermelon joint direct sales center (located in Geumgok-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju) will also be newly renovated to improve customer convenience.
Nam Taeksong, head of the Agricultural and Animal Policy Division, said, "Gwangju City will work together with producers and the government to preserve the unique taste of Mudeungsan Watermelon," and added, "We will do our best to ensure that Mudeungsan Watermelon is reborn as a true premium specialty nationwide and continues to be loved by citizens for a long time."
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