From Specialized Complexes for Oriental Melon and Watermelon
to New Apple Varieties and the Innovative Double Cropping Belt
Expanding Practical, Field-Oriented Support
Yecheon County is driving agricultural innovation by focusing its administrative efforts on expanding the foundation for smart agriculture and fostering strategic income-generating crops.
Amid an agricultural environment marked by the climate crisis, labor shortages, and market changes, the county aims to simultaneously boost farm income and competitiveness by strengthening technology-driven, on-site responsiveness.
Yecheon County (Governor Kim Hakdong) announced that the Yecheon County Agricultural Technology Center will invest a total of 6.3 billion won in rural guidance projects in 2026, gradually expanding the foundation for smart agriculture, fostering strategic crops, strengthening farmers' capabilities, and supporting agricultural work safety.
This year, the Yecheon County Agricultural Technology Center plans to fully implement projects such as: ▲establishing smart specialized complexes, ▲fostering regional strategic income crops, ▲providing education on therapeutic agriculture and agricultural product processing, ▲supporting distribution and marketing, and ▲strengthening training for young and new farmers as well as smart agriculture talent, all aimed at stabilizing farm management and enhancing the sustainability of local agriculture.
Efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of individual crops are also accelerating. Yecheon County is promoting the following projects: ▲establishing a smart specialized complex for early cultivation of oriental melon and watermelon (1.1 billion won), ▲building a foundation for the production and distribution of high-quality, labor-saving new apple varieties (1 billion won), and ▲creating a farmer-led, practical honeybee breeding technology development base (200 million won), all aimed at improving productivity and securing a stable supply base.
The creation of the "Innovative Belt for Double Cropping Alternative Crops in Paddy Fields" for structural transformation of rice farming is also noteworthy.
Yecheon County plans to gradually expand the mung bean and barley double cropping complex (2 billion won), and to establish a production and distribution base to simultaneously diversify income crops and improve farm profitability.
The county will also strengthen its field support system. The Yecheon County Agricultural Technology Center will continue to provide education and technical support to farmers, while also conducting agricultural work safety training and campaign activities to raise safety awareness and establish a culture of safety.
Son Seokwon, Director of the Yecheon County Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "This year, we will create tangible changes in the field through rural guidance projects centered on smart agriculture and strategic crops," adding, "We will continue our efforts to increase farmers' income and strengthen the competitiveness of local agriculture."
Meanwhile, last year, the Yecheon County Agricultural Technology Center successfully established a new rice variety, "Miso Jinpum," by stably operating its own seed production complex (30 hectares, 160 tons of seed production), achieving the first variety change in 30 years.
Additionally, through a pilot project to establish a smart apple orchard (600 million won, 3 hectares), the center has built a fruit cultivation model that responds to weather disasters and has accumulated field-oriented achievements.
In the field of agri-food processing, the center established a one-stop commercialization support system, earning recognition as an "Excellent Case of Regional Balanced Development Project." In the area of agricultural work safety, the center was recognized for promoting a culture of safety through video content production and campaign activities, receiving the "Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award" at a related video contest.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
