CHUNGNAM PROVINCE, South Korea – Young farmers in Chungnam Province are achieving remarkable financial success through smart farm operations, demonstrating the tangible outcomes of the provincial government's proactive agricultural policies. A recent survey of seven young smart farm operators revealed annual incomes ranging from 80 million KRW to a staggering 350 million KRW (approximately $60,000 to $260,000 USD), highlighting a new era of prosperity in rural areas.

This success is a direct result of "Strong Chungnam"'s key initiative, launched under the 8th popular election, to reform the agricultural and rural structure through smart farm development and the cultivation of young farmers. Governor Kim Tae-heum recently underscored the policy's effectiveness during his visit to a smart farm complex in Jangam-myeon, Buyeo, as part of his first tour of cities and counties in the fourth year of the 8th popular election.

 
A Deep Dive into the Success Stories

The Jangam Smart Farm Complex serves as a prime example of this flourishing initiative. Under the guidance of an experienced mentor farmer, young cultivators here specialize in growing European loose-leaf lettuce and other leafy greens, primarily distributing their produce through major online shopping malls. Currently, three individuals, including the mentor, operate smart farms within the complex, with plans for six more by the end of the year and an additional one in early next year.

One particularly inspiring case is that of "Mr. A," a young farmer in his twenties who abandoned his urban life in Seoul to return to his hometown. In his first year of operation, Mr. A generated over 150 million KRW in income, quickly becoming a beacon of the program's potential. As Chungnam's first self-reliant smart farm, Mr. A's facility spans 3,300 square meters (approximately 1,000 pyeong) across a four-span greenhouse, complemented by a 990 square meter (300 pyeong) workspace.

The total investment for Mr. A's smart farm amounted to 950 million KRW. This included 156 million KRW for land acquisition, 650 million KRW for greenhouse construction, and 144 million KRW for other operational expenses. A significant portion of this funding, 315 million KRW, was secured through the Chungnam Self-Reliant Smart Farm Support Project, which provides up to 450 million KRW for smart farm construction (0.3 ha / 2,970 sq.m.) to young farmers aged 18-44 who have secured land. Additionally, 500 million KRW was obtained through the Young Farmer Succession Fund, offering a highly favorable 1.5% ultra-low interest loan with a 5-year grace period and 20-year repayment term. Notably, the 135 million KRW self-contribution required by the Chungnam Self-Reliant Smart Farm Support Project was also covered by an interest-free loan from the provincial government.

Having completed the smart farm construction in December 2023 with no initial self-capital, Mr. A produced 60,000 kg of five European loose-leaf lettuce varieties across ten harvests last year. These products were sold through a distribution company operated by the mentor farmer, generating a total revenue of 408 million KRW. After deducting expenses totaling 250,812,500 KRW (220 million KRW for material purchases and other operational costs, and 30,812,500 KRW for principal and interest payments on loans), Mr. A's net profit stood at 157,187,500 KRW.

 
Expanding Success Across the Province

Mr. A's achievement is not an isolated incident. Among the 205 young smart farm households in the province (including prospective entrepreneurs), a survey of seven young farmers who have fully operated their smart farms for the past year, including Mr. A, revealed impressive collective results. The total revenue for these seven farms amounted to 2.4 billion KRW, with an average revenue of 340 million KRW per farm. Total expenditures were 1.12 billion KRW, leaving a combined net profit of 1.28 billion KRW, or an average of over 180 million KRW in net profit per farm.

Individual successes further illustrate the program's impact:

Mr. B (30s, Dangjin): Specializing in tomatoes, Mr. B operates a 7,590 square meter (2,300 pyeong) smart farm, achieving a revenue of 650 million KRW and a net profit of 350 million KRW.
Ms. C (20s, Nonsan): Cultivating strawberries in a 2,790 square meter (900 pyeong) smart farm, Ms. C generated 380 million KRW in revenue and secured a net profit of 300 million KRW.
The lowest reported net profit among the seven surveyed young farmers was 80 million KRW.

 
Nuances and Future Outlook
A provincial official cautioned against generalizing these findings to all young farmers in Chungnam, noting that "revenue and net profit vary depending on the cultivated crop, area, know-how, sales channels, and management costs." The official also emphasized that this survey focused only on a select group of young farmers who had completed a full year of farming.

However, the official added, "it has been confirmed that young smart farmers in the province are generally achieving high and stable incomes." They further highlighted that "especially in cases where farmers have met good mentors, acquired cultivation know-how, and secured robust sales channels, they have achieved high incomes from the initial stages without significant challenges."

During his policy field visit, Governor Kim Tae-heum was briefed on the development of the Jangam-myeon smart farm complex and inspected new smart farm construction sites. He engaged with young farmers, both current and prospective, to understand their challenges and pledged administrative and financial support to further vitalize young farming and smart agriculture.

In a subsequent meeting with young farmers from Buyeo-gun, Governor Kim stated, "The overarching direction of agricultural policy in the 8th popular election is to create an 'agriculture and rural area that young people seek.'" He expressed his hope that "the widespread success stories of young farmers will encourage more young people to enter agriculture."

This initiative in Chungnam Province is positioning smart farming as a viable and lucrative career path for the younger generation, fostering a sustainable future for the region's agricultural sector and stemming the tide of rural depopulation. The provincial government's continued investment and support are expected to further solidify Chungnam's position as a leader in smart agriculture, inspiring other regions to adopt similar strategies.