Jeonnam Rural Convergence Industry Support Center Ranks No.1 Nationwide for Two Consecutive Years in Rural Convergence Industry Performance Evaluation

Ranked No.1 Nationwide Again This Year, Largest Allocation of Project Funds

Director Song Kyunghwan of Jeonnam Rural Convergence Industry Support Center (Professor of Agricultural Economics, Suncheon National University) Photo by Suncheon National University

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon National University (President Ko Young-jin) announced on the 7th that the Jeonnam Rural Convergence Industry Support Center (Director, Professor Song Kyung-hwan of the Department of Agricultural Economics) ranked first nationwide in last year's rural convergence industry performance evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs allocates this year's project funds based on last year's performance evaluation of 11 city and provincial support centers nationwide that are in charge of supporting certified rural convergence industry operators.

The Jeonnam Rural Convergence Industry Support Center (hereafter Jeonnam 6th Industry Center) was evaluated as the top group in all five categories including certification evaluation, monitoring, on-site coaching, and market support, and was allocated the maximum project fund of 1.212 billion KRW (50% national funds, 50% provincial funds).

Last year as well, it was evaluated as the top group in all categories, maintaining its position as the most excellent certified operator support institution nationwide, making this achievement even more meaningful.

In the midst of the crisis in agriculture and rural areas such as the decline and aging of the agricultural population, the innovative support projects developed and operated exclusively by the Jeonnam 6th Industry Center for certified management entities facing difficulties in farm management led to this favorable evaluation.

In particular, as visitor numbers decreased due to COVID-19, the center operated the nation’s first “Experience Package Using Agricultural Products Produced in Jeonnam Province” project for experience activity operators facing difficulties, generating about 300 million KRW in sales in 2020, about 1.4 billion KRW last year, and securing a budget of 2.5 billion KRW this year (1.5 billion KRW national funds, 1 billion KRW city and county funds) from the Ministry of Economy and Finance through continuous efforts.

Additionally, through the ‘Youth Advisory Group,’ a support system was established where leading young certified operators mentor uncertified young management entities to grow into certified operators. Efforts were also made to strengthen market competitiveness through prototype production projects and detailed page production support.

Furthermore, by expanding sales channels through product photography and experience video production, export support, linkage with home meal replacement (HMR) development, and opening an online antenna shop, sales from sales channels increased by approximately 371% from 1.4 billion KRW in 2019 to 6.6 billion KRW last year.

Song Kyung-hwan, director of the Jeonnam 6th Industry Center, said, “The reason Jeonnam achieved such good results is because a well-established public-private cooperation system is in place, and the largest number of 361 certified management entities nationwide are united in their activities.” He added, “We will take a step further to lead the development of the 6th industry in Jeonnam by contributing to securing safe food for the public through carbon-neutral agriculture for the public interest development of agriculture and rural areas.”

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