Fostering Young Farmers and Increasing Farm Income
Through the Establishment of a Smart Agriculture Foundation
Yangyang County in Gangwon Province is promoting the 'Strawberry Smart Farm Support Project' as part of its Creative Village Development initiative to enhance the competitiveness of agriculture and increase farm income. The county is recruiting young farmers to participate in the project until February 27.
2026 Strawberry Smart Farm Support Project Recruitment Promotional Banner Image. Provided by Yangyang County
This project supports the establishment of strawberry smart farm (nutrient solution cultivation type) facilities. It aims to ease the initial financial burden for young farmers who lack the capacity for self-funding, expand the foundation for young farmers in the region, and create a sustainable agricultural environment through smart agriculture.
Eligible applicants are young farmers aged between 18 and 50 residing in the county as of the year of application. A total of three sites will be selected to receive funding for building a smart agriculture foundation. Each site will receive 150 million won in support, with priority given to younger applicants.
However, even young farmers from outside the county are eligible to apply if they have completed (or are scheduled to complete) the Smart Farm Young Farmer Incubation Program and submit their application within one year of completion. (This applies to those who complete the program in 2024 or 2025.)
Selected young farmers must transfer their residence to Yangyang County within seven days of the announcement of successful candidates. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Applications are being accepted from January 15 to February 27 and can be submitted either by mail or in person at the Rural Development Team of the Rural Development Division at the Yangyang County Agricultural Technology Center.
The county will review the basic eligibility requirements, such as the appropriateness of application documents and exclusion criteria, and then conduct on-site evaluations to comprehensively assess the necessity and feasibility of the project. The final three sites will be selected in March.
For more details, please refer to the announcement posted on the Yangyang County website.
Through this project, the county aims to proactively respond to changes in the agricultural ecosystem brought about by rapid climate change, verify the excellence of Yangyang strawberries through the advancement of agricultural production facilities, and foster the strawberry industry as a high value-added sector to contribute to increased farm income.
In addition, the project is expected to have a positive effect on attracting new residents, including return-to-farming and rural migration, youth entrepreneurship, and the cultivation of young successor farmers.
A Yangyang County official stated, "By promoting the adoption of strawberry smart farms, we will establish a stable income base for farmers and pursue sustainable rural development through the spread of smart agriculture. We hope for active participation from interested young farmers."
Meanwhile, last year, Yangyang County invested a total of 960 million won to support the establishment of three strawberry smart farms and the improvement of one facility. The county is also continuously implementing various policies to foster the strawberry industry, including the creation of strawberry sales and experience centers, and support for packaging materials, strawberry seedlings, and nursery supplies.
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