Young Farmers Settling in Goheung Smart Farm Begin Full-Scale Tomato Shipment

Published 31 Oct.2023 15:41(KST)

Firm Texture and High Marketability Make It Popular

Gohung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Young-min) announced that young farmers residing in the Gohung Smart Farm Innovation Valley rental-type smart farm shipped their first tomatoes on the 30th, about 60 days after transplanting tomatoes at the end of August.

The rental-type smart farm selects 12 people from 4 teams annually to provide farming and startup opportunities for young entrepreneurship education graduates.

[Photo by Goheung-gun]

It is a project that leases glass greenhouses equipped with air-source heating and cooling facilities, integrated environmental control systems, and nutrient solution supply devices on 6 hectares across 3 buildings for up to 3 years.

Kim Geon-ho, a young farmer who has been residing in the rental greenhouse for two years, said, "The tomatoes produced in the greenhouse are sent to wholesale markets in Seoul and Gwangju, and they receive high prices comparable to tomatoes from other regions." He added, "Only products that meet the strict selection criteria required by the market are shipped through thorough quality control and commercialization in the greenhouse equipped with advanced facilities."

Starting with 2 tons of fully ripened tomatoes harvested this time, they aim for sales of 600 tons / 1.2 billion KRW based on 6,000 pyeong over 8 months until June next year.

This achievement is also supported by the solid backing of Gohung-gun.

Gohung-gun supports sorting machines, packaging machines, marketing costs, and more to reduce farm management and distribution expenses.

A county official said, "We will continue to do our best to provide smart farm farming opportunities to young farmers dreaming of startups and to revitalize the agricultural environment of Gohung-gun." He added, "As agricultural products produced in Gohung-gun receive much love from consumers, we will continue to provide ongoing support and promotion to increase the actual income of farms."