Gyeongnam Nonghyup Collaborates to Stabilize Supply and Increase Income for Dan-gam Farmers

Dangam Gyeongnam Council and Dangam Export Corporation Hold Regular General Meeting

On the 17th, Gyeongnam Nonghyup held the regular general meeting of the Dan-gam Gyeongnam Council and the regular general meeting of the Korea Dan-gam Export Corporation at the Gyeongnam Nonghyup conference room, attended by about 30 heads of agricultural cooperatives from major Dan-gam producing areas. At this meeting, they resolved to do their best to stabilize the supply and demand of Dan-gam and expand sales.

The Dan-gam Gyeongnam Council was established in 1995 with the purpose of increasing the income of producing farmers and promoting the Dan-gam industry through supply and demand control and distribution improvement. Currently, 31 agricultural cooperatives from major Dan-gam producing areas participate in the council.

The Korea Dan-gam Export Corporation, an export corporation for Dan-gam, was established in 2016 to unify the shipment channels of Dan-gam export cooperatives and serve as an organized export specialized channel. Currently, 16 agricultural cooperatives participate, and this year it was selected as a government-supported export integration organization, securing a new export support budget.

2023 Dangam Gyeongnam Council Regular General Meeting.
[Image provided by Gyeongnam Nonghyup]

Dan-gam is one of the representative crops of Gyeongnam, which still accounts for 70% of the nationwide cultivation area, although the cultivation area is gradually decreasing due to aging farmers, shortage of harvesting labor, and conversion to other crops.

Among horticultural products, Dan-gam ranks fourth in Nonghyup sales amount after strawberries, green chili peppers, and garlic, with sales reaching 123 billion KRW in 2022.

This year, Dan-gam production is expected to be around 110,000 tons, a 5% decrease from the previous year. This is because the number of fruit sets decreased by 2% compared to the previous year due to low-temperature damage, and physiological fruit drop increased due to heavy rain during the long summer rainy season.

Lee Sang-deuk, head of Dong-eup Nonghyup and newly appointed CEO of Korea Dan-gam Export Corporation, said, “Korea Dan-gam Export Corporation’s Dan-gam exports have averaged around 5.6 billion KRW, increasing from 6 billion KRW in 2016 to 6.7 billion KRW in 2022. Through export activation, it has played a significant role in supply and demand control and domestic price support.” He added, “Although export conditions are difficult, let us expand exports through win-win cooperation with export companies.”

Shin Won-gi, head of Bugok Nonghyup and newly appointed chairman of the Dan-gam Gyeongnam Council, said, “Many difficulties are expected in Dan-gam sales due to securing export volumes amid decreased production this year and the gradually declining consumption of Dan-gam.” He added, “Let us do our best in Dan-gam sales through appropriate export price determination and various consumption promotion activities.”

Kim Ju-yang, head of Gyeongnam Nonghyup headquarters, said, “Due to aging farmers and shortage of farming labor, cultivation area is decreasing and farming material costs are rising, increasing the burden on farmers.” He added, “Gyeongnam Nonghyup will actively support and work together on promotional and sales activities to produce high-quality Dan-gam and expand sales.”

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