Naju City Holds Completion Ceremony for 'Urban Agriculture Expert Training Course'

Published 08 Jul.2021 15:48(KST)

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 8th that it held a graduation ceremony for the '3rd Urban Agriculture Expert Training Course' at the Agricultural Technology Center on the 7th.

The urban agriculture expert training has been promoted since 2019 through certification as the first urban agriculture professional training institution in the province's cities and counties. Its core goal is to spread the public value of urban agriculture and create jobs for local residents by nurturing activists suitable for regional conditions.

The 3rd course was conducted from March 17 to the 7th of this month, consisting of a total of 15 sessions (90 hours).

The main contents included a combination of theory and practice such as 'Understanding and Importance of Urban Agriculture,' 'Related Laws,' 'Eco-friendly Cultivation Techniques and Pest Management,' 'Urban Vegetable Garden and Garden Design Planning,' 'School Vegetable Garden Planning and Program Development,' 'Indoor Wall Greening Space Creation,' 'Rooftop Vegetable Garden Field Practice,' and 'Horticultural Therapy Cases.'

The trainees shared the meaningful achievement of all graduating by completing over 80% of the course and passing the exam evaluation.

The graduates, taking their first step as private urban agriculture experts, will serve as helpers for healthy leisure activities of city residents, such as school vegetable garden instructors and managers, and urban agriculture professional instructors.

In particular, through the 'Urban Agriculture Research Association' formed mainly by graduates last December, they are leading the spread of public value by managing community vegetable gardens, producing eco-friendly food, and conducting donation activities.

They are also provided with opportunities to obtain the nationally certified 'Urban Agriculture Manager' qualification.

The Urban Agriculture Manager qualification is granted by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to those who have acquired national technical qualifications related to urban agriculture and have completed more than 80 hours of the urban agriculture professional course at designated professional training institutions (64 nationwide).

The Agricultural Technology Center links the acquisition of this certificate to activities as school vegetable garden instructors.

Lee Jae-seung, director of the Agricultural Technology Center, said, "Since being designated as an urban agriculture expert training institution, we have produced 47 graduates who have contributed to spreading urban agriculture leisure activities. We plan to introduce an urban agriculture master course in the second half of this year to foster field-type citizen activists who will revitalize community vegetable garden parks."