Farmers Say "Weed Management Is the Most Difficult... Customized Agricultural Machinery Needed"

'Survey Results on Digitalization Demand for Noji Farming Activities'
Survey of 343 Young Farmers from July 5 to 30

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that the majority of young farmers and other agricultural workers recognize the need for customized agricultural machinery distribution, as weed management is the most challenging task during open-field farming activities. Based on the survey results, the government plans to derive key tasks for the 'Data-Driven Open-Field Agriculture Digital Transformation Technology Development' initiative.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rural Development Administration announced the results of the 'Digital and Smartization of the Entire Cycle of Open-Field Farming Activities' survey on the 24th. The survey was conducted over four weeks from the 5th to the 30th of last month, targeting 343 agricultural workers including young farmers and agricultural technology instructors.

Agricultural workers responded that they experience the most difficulties in pest and weed management and harvesting tasks during open-field farming activities. They also indicated the need to introduce digital farming technologies to reduce labor and increase productivity.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs · Rural Development Administration

The most difficult tasks by farming activity stage were identified as pest and disease management (394 cases), harvesting (385 cases), weed control (336 cases), sowing and transplanting (290 cases), water management (238 cases), nutrient management (207 cases), and tillage and land preparation (161 cases), in that order.

Regarding difficulties by task, many respondents cited 'customized and appropriate agricultural machinery supply and operation' (38.5%) as the most challenging during the tillage and land preparation stage. In the sowing and transplanting (29.0%) and harvesting (31.47%) stages, 'labor (personnel) supply' was identified as the biggest difficulty. For water management (28.6%), weed control (29.5%), and pest and disease management (25.9%) stages, 'determining the appropriate timing for tasks' was reported as the most difficult.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs · Rural Development Administration

Regarding desired technologies by task, during the tillage and land preparation stage, 'customized agricultural machinery and implements' technology was considered most necessary (40 respondents, 64.5%). In the sowing and transplanting stage, support for 'customized agricultural machinery and implements' technology (52 respondents, 61.9%) was desired.

Among survey respondents, 81.7% expressed willingness to utilize digital transformation technologies developed for open-field farming activities. Additionally, 88.3% said they would cooperate in collecting farming data for technology development. Notably, when asked about their intention to adopt digital technologies, 87.1% of young farmers in their 20s and 30s responded affirmatively, which is 10% higher than the 77.1% response rate among general farmers.

The expected benefits of introducing digital technologies in open-field agriculture were labor reduction (75.8%), productivity increase (55.8%), and cost reduction (50.3%), in that order.

Kim Sang-kyung, Director of Science and Technology Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, emphasized, "While advanced technology development in agriculture has focused on facilities and livestock barns, the development of digital transformation technologies for open-field agriculture, which accounts for over 90% of farmland in our country, is an urgent and important task that can no longer be delayed."

Bang Hae-seon, Director of Research Policy at the Rural Development Administration, stated, "Based on the survey results, we hope to focus on planning digital technology development needed in open-field farming sites to resolve field difficulties and contribute to building a sustainable agricultural ecosystem."

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