Wanju-gun Selects First 'Return-to-Farming Activation Leading Figure Award'

Published 29 Oct.2021 14:28(KST)

NongHyup Central Association Selects 8 Regional Heads Nationwide... Wanju-gun Only One in Jeonbuk

Wanju-gun Selects First 'Return-to-Farming Activation Leading Figure Award'

[Wanju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho] Wanju County announced on the 29th that it was selected for the ‘1st Leading Award for Revitalizing Return to Farming’ held by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation.

The ‘Leading Award for Revitalizing Return to Farming’ is given to public officials who have actively implemented return-to-farming policies to increase the agricultural population and strengthen the foundation for the survival of agriculture. Eight local government heads nationwide were selected as recipients.

In Jeollabuk-do, Wanju County was selected.

Wanju County has been striving to enhance the practical benefits of farmers through field-centered agricultural policies to revitalize return to farming.

It has proactively promoted local food policies to guarantee income for returnees to farming and small-scale farmers, and signed public meal service agreements with urban local governments such as Gangdong-gu and Songpa-gu in Seoul, focusing on increasing income through market development for farmers.

In particular, since 2008, Wanju has early enacted ordinances supporting returnees to farming and rural areas, providing settlement support such as housing purchase, new construction, repair costs, farmland purchase and lease costs, moving expenses, and education and training expenses. It has also led stable settlement of returnees through internship support to alleviate initial income instability and regional resident integration programs via rural practical education.

Additionally, the operation of temporary residence facilities such as the Stay-type Agricultural Startup Support Center (10 households), Returnee Houses (13 locations), and guesthouses (3 locations), which help prospective returnees explore Wanju and settle successfully, has also promoted active inflow of returnees to farming and rural areas.

As a result of these efforts, according to the ‘2020 Return to Farming and Rural Migration Statistics,’ 3,637 households and 4,793 people, accounting for 22% of the households returning to farming and rural areas in Jeonbuk, settled in Wanju County.

Among them, the youth under 40 years old account for 60% of the total, showing encouraging results.

Park Seong-sil, Wanju County Governor, said, “Wanju County has made steady efforts to become a prosperous agricultural and rural area and a farmer-respecting agritopia.” He added, “This Leading Award for Revitalizing Return to Farming recognizes our efforts so far, and we will continue to do our best to revitalize rural areas.”