40% of Returning Farming Households Move to Rural Areas Without Preparation... Average Preparation Period is 25.1 Months

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Announces Survey on Returning to Farming and Rural Migration
Average Household Income in 5th Year: Returning to Farming 38.95 Million KRW, Rural Migration 42 Million KRW

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] About 40% of returning-to-farming households started farming without any education. The average preparation period for returning to farming and rural living was about 25.1 months.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs conducted a survey on the status of returning to farming and rural living among 4,167 households from November last year to February this year and announced the results on the 27th. According to the survey, the average preparation period for returning to farming was 25.1 months, and the younger the age group, the shorter the preparation period.

Responses indicating that related education was received were 59.9% for returning-to-farming households and 21.1% for rural living households. Information was mainly obtained from family or acquaintances (returning to farming 56.8%, rural living 60.7%), and the biggest problem in returning-to-farming and rural living policies was the difficulty in obtaining information, cited by 27.3% of returning-to-farming and 41.7% of rural living respondents.

Among the surveyed rural living households, 15.0% entered agriculture within five years after moving, and the average household income in the fifth year of returning to farming and rural living was 38.95 million KRW for returning-to-farming and 42 million KRW for rural living. The average monthly living expenses were 2.01 million KRW for returning-to-farming and 2.13 million KRW for rural living.

74.7% of returning-to-farming households and 56.1% of rural living households responded that their relationship with local residents was good, and the most needed public services were cultural and sports services. Regarding residence type, most live in detached farmhouses (returning to farming 86.0%, rural living 53.0%), and the homeownership rates were high at 75.6% for returning-to-farming and 59.5% for rural living.

Additionally, about six out of ten returning-to-farming and rural living households were generally satisfied with their lifestyle.

Based on these survey results, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will provide tailored policy support. First, it will strengthen education support and improve education for returning to farming and rural living in urban areas to provide customized information. It will select 1,600 young people to comprehensively support farming settlement subsidies, startup funds, and farming technology education, and will also establish an in-depth consulting project for young farmers' startups and investments.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.