Sustainable agriculture and rural areas in the Post-COVID-19 era
◇ Agriculture revealed its weakness in various areas from production to distribution due to COVID-19
* Crops with high dependency on foreign workers faced labor shortage, causing temporary disruptions to auction transactions in some wholesale markets.
ㅇ to improve the overall the agriculture structure through digital transformation of production and distribution, livestock quarantine, etc.
◇ Last year, the number of people returning to rural areas changed to increase for the first time in three years. Rural areas gained attention as a society with lower population density after Corona 19
* Population returning to farming and returning home: 517,000 in 2017→ 490,000 in 2018 → 461,000 in 2019 → 495,000 in 2020 (7.4% up from the previous year)
ㅇ In order for rural areas to become an alternative, it is necessary to systematically improve and prevent poor development as well as a comprehensive and balanced development strategy such as settlement conditions, services, and jobs.
1. Digital transformation of agriculture
(Spread smart agriculture) To lay the institutional foundation to efficiently support the spread of smart agriculture along with the expansion of core infrastructure such as the Smart Farm Innovation Valley
(Leading models) To encourage the spread of smart agriculture by fostering leading models in each field, such as Smart Farm Innovation Valley and smart agriculture pilot projects for outdoor cultivation
To complete (by the second quarter) construction of four smart farm innovation valleys in Miryang and Goheung which were selected as 2nd phase and start full-scale operation of greenhouses, demonstration complexes, and rental farms
To start operation of smart farm demonstration complex for outdoor cultivation by installing irrigation and fertigation facilities based on ICT and using drones in main outdoor-cultivation areas (apples in Andong, soybeans in Goesan)
(Young farmers) To newly select and train about 200 young farmers in the Youth Startup Incubation Center of Smart Farm Innovation Valley (in July)
To support for start-up preparation by providing rental smart farms for excellent young people among existing graduates (2 to 3 people as a team and renting 0.5 ha per team, a total of 8 ha)
(Infrastructure) To provide facilities and equipment for utilizing agricultural data and build infrastructure to support demonstrating smart farm technologies and products ,and export related equipment
To expand supply of smart farm facilities and equipment such as sensors, video equipment, automatic irrigation and fertigation, and integrated control system to greenhouses and livestock houses * Smart Greenhouse/Household: (in 2021, tentative) 6,485ha/4,743 rooms → (in 2022, target) 7,000/5,750
To provide support for greenhouses, facilities, equipment, services, etc. to demonstrate technologies and products of smart farm companies in the demonstration complex of the Smart Farm Innovation Valley
(Export) To expand the export base of the domestic smart farm industry by additionally creating K-Smart Farm pilot greenhouses in the New Southern Region (Vietnam) (currently 1 site in Kazakhstan)
To bolster export of Korean smart farm packages including market research, buyer networking, and consultation by forming the 「Smart Farm Export Support Team」
(Data) To establish a system for standardization, integration, sharing, and joint utilization of data collected from smart farms to lay the foundation for applying advanced technologies such as AI * To increase the number of farms to collect standardized data through standardized greenhouses in Smart Farm Innovation Valley (145 farms in 2021 → tentatively 300 farms in 2022) and ensure high-quality data
To provide data-based solutions* for farmers to solve on-site problems such as pest forecasting and cultivation management * For example, irrigation management using external weather and soil moisture data
(Institutional foundation) To make efforts to enact 'Smart Agriculture Promotion Act' for consistent support to establish smart agriculture database, standardization, and fostering of professional manpower (in the fourth quarter)
(Digital distribution) To encourage the online wholesale trade of livestock products and prepare institutions and system to build and operate online trades
To gradually increase the number of items and quantities of trial trade* to revitalize online transactions, and start an online pilot auction for livestock products (from December 2021). * (2021) 5% of wholesale market trading volume for onions and garlics → (2022) 10% + major vegetables and fruits
To formulate a master plan and strategy for information management (platform) to launch an integrated online exchange in 2023 and prepare related laws (by 2022)
2. Spread of K-agriculture
(Overseas spread of K-agriculture) To share Korea's policy and technology experiences and to provide food to developing countries, in order to contribute to global food security and improve Korea's reputation in the world
(Food assistance) To provide food to Africa with severe food crisis because of conflicts and natural disasters in cooperation with the international organization (WFP) (50,000 tons)
(Development cooperation) To promote cooperation projects with the developing countries mainly in smart agriculture where competitive edge and huge demand were identified
For countries subject to the New Souther Policy, to include the livestock industry in cooperation projects of smart agriculture based on crop cultivation, and to promote cooperation in upgrading animal disease detection capabilities * To promote the smart farm support project in pig farms in Vietnam, for the first time in the livestock industry (‘22~’24)
To increase cooperation projects in smart farms and seeds with countries subject to the New Northern Policy, whose exchanges were relatively lower (two in 2021 → 4 in 2022, new projects in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan)
To draw up ways to promote the agri-food ODA projects, in order to contribute to the international community's common goals and calls for food systems transformation and to spread K-agriculture (first half of 2022) * Member countries agreed to the transition of food systems and ODA strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (zero hunger and poverty reduction, etc.) at the UN Food Systems Summit (Sep. 2021.)
(K-agri-food export expansion) To target high-quality agri-food markets by improving quality competitiveness of agri-food products for export with "Korea premium" such as the Korean Wave
To expand the export into premium markets (high-end shops, hotels, etc.) in countries subject to the New Northern Policy and China with strategies to improve species, sugar content, packaging, brands of main export products including strawberries and grapes
To strengthen logistics support for export with additional operation of exclusive flights (Korean Air, Singapore·Hong Kong) and exclusive ships (HMM, US, Australia)
To create synergy by promoting high-quality of traditional food products such as Kimchi ‧ginseng‧salted paste in connection with Korean content including K-POP and soap operas
To expand Korean food pavilions at overseas online malls (Accumulative, 6 in 2021 → 11 in 2022) and to strengthen promotion with new media outlets and online platforms including SNS (5 units)
(New industry promotion) To create new jobs and added value by reflecting social trends such as the changing demographics, net-zero and the post-Covid-19 era
(Pet industry) to create new jobs in the service area such as animal welfare experts*, animal behavior correction specialists * Notification of the 1st certification test (‘21.11.26.) → test (’22.2.) → 1st certification (scheduled in ‘22.3.)
(Promising food industry) to run functional food, future food*, food-tech majors to nurture experts to lead the promising food industry in the future (4 colleges in 2022) * to train new food industry sectors for aging population, medical food and customized food
3. Desirable rural areas
(Rural New Deal) To nurture jobs by promoting the "Rural New Deal" project and agricultural and industrial complexes based on rural space planning and agreements
* To legally systematize rural space planning, which used to be randomly established, for the Rural New Deal project
(Space planning) To support transfer·integration of environmentally harmful facilities such as livestock farms and factories near rural villages based on the rural space planning (14 billion KRW per unit, 5 units in 2021 → 45 in 2022) * In conjunction with feasibility study of rural space planning to minimize the trial and error of redesigning land planning system under the rural space planning (3 units)
(New Deal Project) To expand agricultural agreements※ (32 cities and guns in 2021 → 49 in 2022), to support rural policy package including housing·landscape·agricultural economy and social services (Q1) ※ To establish policy cooperation governance between MAFRA and local governments to achieve the common goal of rural revitalization and to support the package of projects necessary for rural space and residence planning * Support areas: ①space planning, ②job creation and economic vitalization, ③housing·landscape improvement, ④social services
(Industrial infrastructure) To support the establishment of smart and green technologies and infrastructure in out-dated agricultural and industrial complexes and to develop future agricultural and industrial complexes (3 units)
(Systematic support for people returning to farming and rural areas) To establish integrated platform to provide customized information based on the needs of people returning to farming and rural areas starting from programs for experience (‘22~’23)
To expand the size of programs for "Living in rural areas" (88 cities and guns in 2021 → 95 in 2022)
To begin the service of "Integrated platform for people returning to farming and rural areas" which provides information on policy and services related to residence, jobs, education, cultural experience and welfare (from Dec.)
To provide customized support from the phase-in process by grouping people based on their interests (product·region), providing training·experience programs and exchange programs (Second half of 2022)
4. Animal disease control system improvement
(Strengthened responsibility of animal disease control) To establish basis for voluntary disease prevention by strengthening disease control capabilities of farms and systemized businesses
(Disease control grading system) To encourage disease control efforts and upgrade* disease control system of farms by expanding the types of species subject to the system * (Current) Pilot project for laying hens → (Expansion(draft)) Phase-in expansion of pigs and chicken ※ Disease control grading system: to provide rights to be exempted from preventive culling for farms with high disease control capabilities
(Farm biosecurity) To install disease control facilities* in pig farms nationwide * Strengthened biosecurity facilities: farms·disease control rooms·entry and exits·fences, etc.
(Systematic business) To encourage "voluntary disease control programs" for managing contract farms' disease control and to impose penalty if any violation if found at disease control inspections or if correction measures are not implemented
(Animal disease control expertise) To encourage animal disease control activities by professional entities and to newly introduce vaccination, animal shipment, animal treatment businesses (with the revision of the Act on the Prevention of Animal Contagious Diseases)