Bonghwa Smart Farm Embarks on First Harvest with Young Farmers

26,000 Tomato Seedlings Planted in Rental Complex
"Agricultural Transformation" Begins On-site

Bonghwa County in North Gyeongsang Province has officially begun promoting the spread of smart agriculture, focusing on young farmers.

Young farmers residing in the rental smart farm complex have started planting tomatoes for the first time, signaling the beginning of an "agricultural transformation" on-site.

At the formal tomato event held on the 18th, Park Hyunguk, County Governor of Bonghwa (first from the left), officials from the Agricultural Technology Center, resident young farmers, and their families attended.

On January 20, Bonghwa County announced that young farmers who have moved into the rental smart farm complex in Changpyeong-ri, Bongseong-myeon, have begun full-scale farming, starting with planting tomatoes.

According to Bonghwa County, at the formal tomato planting event held on the 18th, Park Hyunguk, County Governor of Bonghwa, officials from the Agricultural Technology Center, resident young farmers, and their families attended. For the first time, 26,000 seedlings of the Western tomato variety "Dafnis" were planted in Building B of the rental smart farm.

This project focuses on providing a stable foundation for young farmers who wish to start a business in smart agriculture. The program targets those who have completed the Bonghwa County rental smart farm start-up training and the Gyeongbuk Smart Farm Youth Start-up Incubation Center training. It offers the opportunity to lease two state-of-the-art greenhouses (3.6 hectares) for three years to support their smart agriculture ventures.

The smart farm is equipped with the latest facilities, including an integrated environmental control system, a nutrient solution supply system, and an eco-friendly energy-based heating and cooling system. The county plans to strengthen its support system to provide young people, who often face a heavy initial investment burden, with hands-on smart farm management experience and to help them achieve stable income generation.

During the lease period, Bonghwa County also plans to operate on-site customized programs such as benchmarking advanced sites and expert consulting to enhance the practical farming capabilities of young farmers.

Park Hyunguk, County Governor of Bonghwa, stated, "Through the rental smart farm, we will lower the entry barrier for young farmers facing high initial investment costs and provide new opportunities, thereby attracting more young people to the region and revitalizing rural communities. We will further accelerate the agricultural transformation of Bonghwa County."