Jangseong-gun, Progressing Smoothly in Establishing the National Subtropical Crop Demonstration Center

Published 01 Dec.2022 13:29(KST)

[Jangseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jo Hangyu] The construction project of the National Subtropical Crop Demonstration Center in Sangdo-ri, Samgye-myeon, Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do is making steady progress.

According to the county on the 1st, the National Subtropical Crop Demonstration Center is a national institution responsible for systematic demonstration, research, and technology development to expand subtropical crop cultivation in response to climate change.

It consists of a comprehensive research building, seedling greenhouse, resource conservation greenhouse, and storage and sorting warehouse, and the Rural Development Administration is building it in Samgye-myeon, Jangseong with a total project cost of 35 billion KRW fully funded by the national government.

From September to October, the county management plan (land use area, research facility) was reviewed and decided by Jeollanam-do and officially announced, followed by the announcement of topographic map, designation of project implementer, and public inspection of implementation plan approval in sequence.

Subsequently, the entry of the Korea Real Estate Board for land and property surveys and appraisals was announced, indicating that the center construction process is proceeding smoothly.

Once the implementation plan approval decision and land compensation procedures are completed, construction is expected to begin in the first half of 2023.

Flexible collaboration with related organizations is also accelerating the center’s construction.

On the 23rd of last month, Director Lee Ji-won of the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science and other officials visited Jangseong-gun to share key issues regarding the center’s establishment and pledged to expedite the project.

A county official said, “Since the county and local residents have united in their desire to attract the center, we expect the remaining procedures to proceed smoothly,” adding, “If carried out as planned, completion is expected in the second half of 2024.”

Meanwhile, Jangseong-gun’s strategy to revitalize subtropical crop cultivation in line with the establishment of the National Subtropical Crop Demonstration Center is also drawing attention.

Recently, the county achieved a great success by having the new income horticultural crop “lemon” cultivation project selected in the ‘2023 Customized Future Strategy Income Crop Development Pilot’ contest hosted by the Jeollanam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services. High export demand from neighboring countries such as Japan is expected to yield high profits.

Securing 480 million KRW including provincial funds, the county plans to develop a ‘cost-reduction type lemon cultivation embedded greenhouse model’ to lower the entry barriers for lemon cultivation.

They also plan to introduce ‘environment-controlled smart farm facilities’ that reduce labor and enable high-quality lemon production, as well as develop an eco-friendly lemon cultivation manual.