Gangjin-gun Department of Eco-friendly Agriculture Receives Audit Board's 'Exemplary Department Award'

Contributing to Crisis Overcoming and Farm Income Improvement through Direct Fresh Flower Sales Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

The Eco-Friendly Agriculture Division of Gangjin County received an exemplary department award from the Board of Audit and Inspection on the 28th of last month. / ⓒ Asia Economy

[Gangjin＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su] The Eco-friendly Agriculture Division of Gangjin County, Jeollanam-do (Governor Lee Seung-ok) was recognized for its contribution to increasing farmers' income through proactive crisis management, such as promoting direct flower sales to overcome the COVID-19 crisis faced by local flower farmers. On the 28th of last month, the division received a commendation as a model department from the Board of Audit and Inspection.

According to the county on the 2nd, the commendation was awarded as part of the 73rd anniversary of the Board of Audit and Inspection's establishment, 'Audit Day,' selecting exemplary cases nationwide among institutions. A total of 11 departments across the country, including Gangjin County's Eco-friendly Agriculture Division, were selected.

Since last year, flower farmers in Gangjin County have faced a sharp decline in flower consumption due to the reduction or cancellation of most events such as entrance and graduation ceremonies amid the COVID-19 pandemic, along with government recommendations to refrain from going out to prevent infection. This led to concerns over a significant drop in sales caused by price collapses and auction failures.

In response, the county, together with farmers, implemented the nation's first 'Online Direct Sales of Flower (Fresh Flower) Complex,' establishing an online order and delivery system that allows local flower farmers to receive orders directly from consumers and deliver flower products via courier.

Especially during the early stages of online sales, elderly flower farmers were unfamiliar with computer operations, and when order and delivery volumes surged, they were unable to process the influx of orders, temporarily suspending order acceptance. However, the county quickly resolved these issues by organizing and operating a public-private joint operation team for direct flower sales consisting of 16 members across 5 teams.

Governor Lee Seung-ok said, "At the beginning of last year, flower farmers faced a crisis where they had to discard flowers they had carefully produced in an instant due to COVID-19. By boldly omitting the intermediate distribution process and pioneering a new market through online direct sales, we secured sales channels and minimized farmers' damages. As non-face-to-face activities through online platforms increase and the importance of distribution is emphasized, we will strive further to revitalize direct sales."

Meanwhile, Gangjin County has achieved total sales of 890,000 flowers and approximately 1.76 billion KRW through the 'Cheongjagol Flower Complex Online Direct Sales.'

Gangjin＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su kys86120@asiae.co.kr

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