Gokseong County Signs Agreement for 'Return-to-Farming Doctor Support Project'

"Helping Returning Farmers Settle and Revitalizing the Rural Economy"

Gokseong County recently held a signing ceremony for the "2025 Return-to-Farming Doctor Support Project" to help returnees successfully settle and improve agricultural productivity. The event was attended by six people from three teams, including leading farmers cultivating blueberries, apple jujubes, and corn, as well as returnee trainees. Photo by Gokseong County

Gokseong County in Jeollanam-do (Governor: Cho Sangrae) announced on the 21st that it held an agreement ceremony for the "2025 Return-to-Farming Doctor Support Project" to help returning farmers who have moved to rural areas successfully settle and improve agricultural productivity. The ceremony was attended by three teams, totaling six people, including leading farmers who cultivate a variety of crops such as blueberries, jujube apples, and corn, as well as returning farmers (trainees).

This year's "Return-to-Farming Doctor Support Project" will provide returning farmers with step-by-step practical training and hands-on experiences in various fields, including farming techniques, quality control, management and marketing, and entrepreneurship, under the guidance of leading farmers. The project aims to help returning farmers settle stably and is expected to contribute to revitalizing the rural economy.

Eligibility is limited to leading farmers with more than five years of farming experience and returning farmers (trainees) who have moved to rural areas within the past five years. Each team will receive 1 million KRW in project funding, and the training will last for at least 17 days. This year, five teams (10 people) applied, of which three teams (six people) were finally selected.

The leading farmers emphasized, "We will continue our efforts to help returning farmers settle successfully in rural areas," and added, "As integration with the local community is as important as agriculture itself, we will actively provide customized counseling to help returning farmers adapt quickly and smoothly to rural life."

The returning farmers (trainees) said, "We are grateful to be able to learn the basics of agriculture professionally from leading farmers," and added, "This training will not only help improve our agricultural skills but also greatly benefit our connection with the local community."

An official from the county stated, "Returning farmers who are starting agriculture for the first time may face difficulties due to lack of experience. However, through this Return-to-Farming Doctor Support Project, we expect that joint training with leading farmers will help them overcome fears and inexperience caused by lack of experience," and added, "The training will minimize risks and be a great help in establishing a stable farming settlement and income base."

Meanwhile, in addition to the Return-to-Farming Doctor Support Project, Gokseong County is running various programs to help returning farmers gain agricultural experience. Starting with agricultural machinery training at the Return-to-Farming Experience School on April 11, the county plans to participate in the Y-FARM EXPO and the Return-to-Farming/Return-to-Village Regional Revitalization Fair from April 25 to 27 to provide necessary information and support to returning farmers. In addition, regional meetings for returning and new residents will be held, offering opportunities for returning farmers to communicate with each other and receive various forms of support from the local community.