"Young Farmers to Haenam!"... Full-Scale Launch of Smart Agriculture Cluster

Smart Agriculture Promotion Zone in Samsan-myeon to Be Completed by 2029
Establishment of Rental Smart Farms and APCs...
A Leap Toward the Future of Agriculture

Haenam County in South Jeolla Province is accelerating the establishment of the 'Haenam-style Smart Agriculture Cluster' to lead the digital transformation of agriculture and foster young farmers.

According to Haenam County on April 20, the core project of this cluster is the 'Smart Agriculture Promotion Zone,' which will be located in the Agricultural Research Complex 2 area of Samsan-myeon. The county plans to focus on creating a total of 18.6 hectares of facilities by 2029, including rental smart farms, a smart APC (Agricultural Products Processing and Distribution Center), a vegetable seed production complex, and company-linked fruit complexes.

Haenam County is establishing the "Haenam-type Smart Agriculture Cluster" to lead digital transformation in agriculture and nurture young farmers. Photo by Haenam County

In particular, by actively linking with national government funding programs, the county aims to minimize its financial burden while establishing a future-oriented agricultural base that seamlessly connects production, distribution, education, and start-up support in a one-stop system.

To this end, a total of KRW 10.3 billion will be invested this year (including KRW 5.2 billion in national and provincial funding) to begin establishing the foundation for the smart horticulture complex. Starting in 2027, the county will proceed with the creation of a 4-hectare rental smart farm, investing a total of KRW 20 billion (with KRW 13 billion from national and provincial funds).

Through these efforts, young farmers will be provided with field training opportunities and management know-how, supporting their stable rural entrepreneurship, especially for those lacking initial capital.

Additionally, by linking with the Climate Change Response Center and the Regional Specialized Fruit Support Center within the complex, the county will seek to diversify into high value-added crops such as subtropical varieties, and strengthen its distribution competitiveness by establishing a data-driven smart storage and logistics system.

Furthermore, Haenam County is pursuing a plan to expand the designation of the entire Agricultural Research Complex 1, 2, and 3 areas (covering about 55 hectares) as Smart Agriculture Promotion Zones. If designated, these zones will benefit from regulatory simplification and special provisions regarding public assets, which is expected to further boost private investment and attract related companies.

Currently, Haenam County is developing Korea's largest county-level agricultural research complex, totaling 82 hectares, by clustering related facilities such as the National Climate Change Response Center (scheduled to break ground in the second half of this year), the Jeonnam Province Specialized Fruit Support Center, and Agricultural Research Complexes 1, 2, and 3. In Complex 1, the Sweet Potato Research Center, a rental farm for young farmers, and scientific agriculture demonstration facilities have already been completed and are now in operation.

A Haenam County official stated, "Smart agriculture is a key strategy for bringing young people back and revitalizing rural communities. By gradually increasing the share of national and provincial funding, we will reduce financial burden and enhance project stability, thereby completing the model of 'Haenam as the capital of rural areas,' organically connecting production, distribution, and entrepreneurship, and setting the standard for the future of Korean agriculture."

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