Mechanization, Smart Technology, and Youth... Haenam Launches the Three Pillars of Agricultural Innovation

Building a Comprehensive Support System Including Microbial Supply and Field Crop Mechanization
280 Million Won Invested in Smart Technologies for Young Farmers
Pioneering the Future of Agriculture

Haenam County in South Jeolla Province is accelerating the realization of its vision of becoming the "Capital of Rural Areas" by significantly expanding and reorganizing the core initiatives of its Agricultural Technology Center to promote eco-friendly agriculture and reduce management costs for farmers.

According to Haenam County on March 16, the local government plans to establish a comprehensive support system that encompasses all areas of agriculture, from production and processing to safety and research and development, with the aim of enhancing agricultural competitiveness.

View of Haenam County Office

First, the county will completely overhaul its microbial supply system, which forms the backbone of eco-friendly agriculture. In addition to increasing the production of common microbial strains such as Bacillus and lactic acid bacteria, the county will also ramp up the production of functional microbes aimed at preventing wheat Fusarium head blight and controlling nematodes. These will be supplied in stages, matching the crop cultivation periods.

In particular, instead of the conventional small-package method, farmers will be encouraged to bring their own containers. This measure is intended to protect the environment while improving on-site efficiency. The county will also greatly expand a program to foster exemplary models for field crop mechanization, which is designed to address chronic labor shortages. The range of target crops, previously limited to garlic and onions, will be expanded to include cabbage and potatoes. In addition, agricultural machinery needed from sowing to harvesting will be leased on a long-term basis to key production area joint management councils, laying the foundation for reduced production costs and increased scale.

The county is also making a concerted effort to nurture young farmers who will lead the future of agriculture. A pilot project called the "Young Farmers' Open-Field Smart Technology Introduction Project," with a total budget of 280 million won, will be implemented for farmers aged 18 to 49. The project will supply packages of autonomous driving kits, transport robots, and smart pest control equipment to enhance the ability to respond to abnormal weather conditions. It will also focus on fostering youth farmer associations, currently involving 228 members across six fields, to help build robust networks.

At the same time, efforts to add high value to local agricultural products through processing and research and development will be accelerated. In 2026, the county plans to expand sales channels by transferring technologies and standardizing manufacturing processes for newly developed processed products, such as recipes using long-grain rice and Haenam cabbage kimchi.

For livestock farmers, the county aims to ease the burden of feed costs by strengthening the foundation for self-sufficient feed production, including regional adaptation demonstrations of alfalfa. The effort to upgrade Haenam's signature specialty, sweet potatoes, will also be further refined. Precision analysis equipment will be introduced to establish a comprehensive soil and water quality diagnostic system, while diagnostic systems for major diseases and pests, such as tuber rot, will be set up to provide customized agricultural consulting.

The county also aims to solidify the competitiveness of the Haenam sweet potato brand through the patenting of diagnostic kits and the implementation of a big data-based growth prediction system. Additionally, on-site customized consulting will be introduced through agricultural work safety managers to meticulously strengthen the agricultural safety net.

A Haenam County official stated, "We will systematically support all areas of agriculture, including expanding eco-friendly production, strengthening mechanization, and fostering young farmers, to build a sustainable agricultural foundation. We are committed to further solidifying Haenam's status as the capital of rural areas by pursuing field-oriented agricultural policies that residents can truly feel."

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