Jincheon, South Korea – Jincheon County is at the forefront of agricultural innovation, investing heavily in research and development to boost local farming. The county has established a 1,119㎡ demonstration field at its Agricultural Technology Center, where a variety of crops are being trialled.

To enhance farmers' incomes, the county is experimenting with subtropical fruits like citrus, mango, and cherry, along with temperate fruits and specialty vegetables such as watermelon and melon. The demonstration field is equipped with a smart farm system that monitors and analyzes environmental data in real time, including temperature, humidity, soil temperature, and soil moisture.

Jincheon County is also utilizing this facility to conduct vertical cultivation of small-sized watermelons and hydroponic cultivation of muskmelon. Furthermore, the county conducts evaluation sessions and on-site training for 250 farmers and visitors annually, sharing cultivation data.

To enhance the competitiveness of local livestock farms, the county has invested 690 million won in modernizing livestock facilities for four farms. Additionally, the county has undertaken ICT convergence projects for 10 livestock farms, supported eco-friendly livestock facilities and equipment for 17 farms, and provided support for climate change adaptation facilities for five farms.

"To minimize crop damage caused by factors such as spring season sunlight deficiency and persistent heat waves, we are actively responding to climate change by introducing water-cooled heating and cooling systems for tomato, strawberry, and rose farms," said a Jincheon County official. "We will do our best to strengthen the self-sufficiency of agriculture so that it can become a core industry driving local growth."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]