Wando-gun Signs Business Agreement to Revitalize 'Uri Mil' Industry

Published 05 Jan.2022 15:58(KST)

Mutual Cooperation Between Korean Woori Wheat Cooperative for Production Expansion and Quality Improvement

Wando County held a business agreement ceremony with the Korea Domestic Wheat Agricultural Cooperative. Photo by Asia Economy

[Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] On the 5th, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, held a business agreement ceremony with the Korea Woori Wheat Agricultural Cooperative (Chairman Cheon Ik-chul), which is leading the protection and distribution of domestic wheat, to revitalize the domestic wheat industry and improve self-sufficiency rates.

According to the county, this business agreement aims to activate the domestic wheat industry through contract production, sales, and processing of domestic wheat, contributing to the improvement of the self-sufficiency rate of domestic agricultural products, and fostering a specialized domestic wheat complex suitable for the Wando environment to increase farmers' income and enhance the competitiveness of Wando agriculture.

Through the agreement, both organizations agreed to actively cooperate on ▲policy, institutional, administrative, and technical support for expanding domestic wheat production and improving quality ▲contract cultivation, seed supply, sales, promotion, and processed product development for stable market channels ▲supply of domestic wheat varieties suitable for the Wando environment and cultivation technology education.

Meanwhile, the Wando-gun Agricultural Technology Center has attracted the domestic wheat project after several consultations with the Korea Woori Wheat Agricultural Cooperative since September last year, sowing wheat on about 35 hectares centered on Nohwa-eup, establishing varieties and cultivation techniques suitable for the Wando environment.

In the future, plans are underway to develop processed products using domestic wheat, such as linking with baking.

A county official stated, “We will strive to achieve mutual growth by cooperating with the Korea Woori Wheat Agricultural Cooperative to expand domestic wheat production and improve quality,” adding, “Our county will supply agricultural products produced in Wando to the marine healing industry, a key project of the county, to help increase farmers' income.”

The Korea Woori Wheat Agricultural Cooperative was founded in 2004 when the government purchase of domestic wheat was suspended in 1984, putting domestic wheat at risk of disappearing. It has been fostering the domestic wheat industry by purchasing and supplying one-third of domestic wheat to preserve it and improve self-sufficiency rates.