Goheung-gun Selected for 'Smart Farm Startup Complex' Contest

Published 19 Jul.2024 12:50(KST)

Secured 24 Billion KRW in National Funding for 20ha Horticultural Complex

Goheung-Style Agro-Livestock Complex Development Progressing Smoothly

Gohung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Young-min) announced on the 19th that it has secured 24 billion KRW in national funding for the creation of a 20ha horticultural complex after being selected for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ “Large-scale Smart Farm Startup Complex Development” public contest.

This contest was fiercely prepared and competed over two years since 2023 alongside nine local governments promoting the smart farm industry as a future strategic industry, with Gohung-gun ultimately being selected.

[Photo by Goheung-gun]

The project period is from 2024 to 2026, with a total budget of 47.2 billion KRW (24 billion KRW national funding, 23.2 billion KRW linked funds). The Korea Rural Community Corporation will establish the infrastructure to enable smart farming, then select resident agricultural corporations through a public contest procedure. The selected agricultural corporations will purchase the developed land and build smart farm greenhouses, a joint smart APC (Agricultural Product Center), and a joint nursery.

Additionally, the selected agricultural corporations will donate 3ha of the 20ha project site to Gohung-gun. Gohung-gun plans to support young farmers who wish to start smart farms but face difficulties securing farmland.

Governor Gong Young-min said, “I sincerely congratulate the successful bid for the large-scale smart farm startup complex project. Centered on the 100,000-pyeong (approximately 330,000 sqm) Gohungman Smart Farm Innovation Valley completed in November 2022, we plan to expand a large-scale Gohung-type smart agriculture, livestock, and fisheries farm spanning 600,000 to 700,000 pyeong (approximately 2 to 2.3 million sqm) in this area, enabling over 1,000 young people to find employment or start businesses, making Gohung a true hub for smart innovation valleys.”

A county official stated, “We expect that trainees who have completed 20 months of practical training for smart farm startups at the Gohung Smart Farm Innovation Valley (Youth Startup Incubation Center) will have ongoing opportunities to manage smart farms locally. The participation of large agricultural corporations will help young farmers with joint shipments, securing sales channels, and farming technology support, creating an opportunity for mutual growth by assisting young farmers’ startups and farming settlement.”