Hongseong County Agricultural Technology Center to Conduct On-site Training for New Farmers Until November

Five Teams Focus on Regional Specialty Crops Such as Strawberries and Broccoli

The Hongseong County Agricultural Technology Center is actively promoting and achieving good results with the on-site training program for new farmers./Provided by Hongseong County Agricultural Technology Center

The Hongseong County Agricultural Technology Center in South Chungcheong Province is drawing attention as a model case for policies supporting the settlement of new farmers. The center's 'On-site Training Program for New Farmers,' which is being actively promoted to support the stable settlement of new farmers in rural areas and their successful agricultural startups, has achieved notable results.

According to the county's Agricultural Technology Center on July 3, the 'On-site Training Program for New Farmers' has recorded a high settlement rate of 76.5%, with 13 out of 17 trainees who participated in the program since 2022 successfully starting their own farms.

This year, five teams are participating in the program, which runs from April to the end of November. The training focuses on regionally specialized crops such as wild arugula, baby broccoli, and strawberries (Seolhyang, Goldberry, Honghee), providing hands-on education centered on these crops.

In the on-site training program, each returning farmer trainee is paired one-on-one with a leading local farm. The training is conducted primarily through practical, field-based education, aiming to help participants acquire real-world farming skills and enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities.

Trainees participating in the program receive practical training across all aspects of farm management, including sowing, seedling cultivation, transplanting, pest and disease control, and sales strategies, all conducted at the leading farms' training sites. As a result, many are expected to transition directly into agricultural startups.

An official from the county's Agricultural Technology Center stated, "The On-site Training Program for New Farmers goes beyond simply passing on technical skills. It focuses on establishing a practical foundation for entrepreneurship based on the know-how of leading farms," adding, "We will continue to provide support so that trainees can grow into independent farmers."