Jeongeup-si, Fostering Local Specialty Crop 'Saessak Ginseng'

[Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Jeongeup City, Jeollabuk-do (Mayor Yoo Jinseop) is striving to discover distinctive agriculture that takes into account Jeongeup's geographical characteristics and climate, among other factors.

According to the county on the 21st, the county aims to discover specialized crops suitable for the local conditions to create new growth engines for regional agriculture and find new sources of income to contribute to increasing farm household income.

The Agricultural Technology Center selected sprout ginseng as the distinctive agriculture this year and designated Buk-myeon K-Farm Factory as a pilot project farm to promote pilot projects aimed at enhancing agricultural competitiveness and farm household income.

The pilot farm applied technologies for stable production by investing 50 million KRW in project costs to support groundwater sterilization facilities and oxygen supply devices necessary for hydroponic cultivation, as well as processing equipment needed for sprout ginseng processing.

In particular, the pilot project is being conducted focusing on no use of chemical pesticides, year-round production and cultivation environment management, cost reduction, and maximizing productivity and competitiveness.

Through this, it is expected that not only the production volume increase and quality improvement of sprout ginseng but also the development of various processed products will enhance the added value for farm households.

Sprout ginseng is a medicinal crop whose roots, leaves, and stems can all be eaten, and it is known to be effective in anticancer, blood pressure reduction, and brain nerve protection due to its high saponin content in leaves and stems.

Also, it is tender and has a soft texture, making it highly versatile for use in salads, ssam vegetables, green juice, and premium fried dishes, allowing easy consumption at home like regular vegetables.

The city expects that demand for functional sprout ginseng will increase as social interest in immunity rises due to COVID-19.

A city official said, "Sprout ginseng, which is attracting attention for its high nutritional value, is mainly used for raw consumption, but we plan to focus on developing various processed products and foods so that consumers can easily eat it."

Meanwhile, K-Farm Factory first started sprout ginseng cultivation in 2018 and produces and sells 15 tons of sprout ginseng annually in advanced facilities equipped with LED and temperature and humidity control.

Sprout ginseng can be purchased through Danpungmiin Shopping Mall operated by the city.

Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil gjg7070@asiae.co.kr

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