A view of Chungnam Provincial Office. Provided by Chungcheongnam-do
2 out of 9 cities and counties with population decline by next year
Contest until the end of this month… Target selection by next month
South Chungcheong Province announced on the 8th that it will create two youth rental smart farm complexes in two out of nine cities and counties in areas where the population is declining by next year. If you include Gongju, where youth rental smart farms were created through a contest last year, the number of youth rental smart farms created in the Chungnam region will increase to three.
An official from South Chungcheong Province explained, “We are creating a youth rental smart farm to attract young farmers to areas with a declining population and support their settlement in rural areas.”
The province plans to create a 2ha smart farm in cities and counties and lease it to young farmers at an affordable price. A budget of 10 billion won is invested for each smart farm to be built by next year.
Among the nine cities and counties designated by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security as areas with population decline, including Gongju-si, Geumsan-gun, Nonsan-si, Boryeong-si, Buyeo-gun, Seocheon-gun, Yesan-gun, Cheongyang-gun, and Taean-gun, two of the eight cities and counties excluding Gongju-si selected last year will be selected to create a smart farm.
After the selected cities and counties create youth rental smart farms, they recruit young farmers who wish to move in and lease the smart farms. Young farmers who move in will run a practice farm in Smart Farm and learn related skills.
Kim Tae-heum, governor of South Chungcheong Province, said, “In order to prevent the disappearance of rural areas, we need to attract young people who can give birth and raise children.”
An official from Chungcheongnam-do said, “I know that young farmers are experiencing difficulties in acquiring farming skills, securing management funds, and securing farmland at the beginning of farming.” “This rental smart farm project will help alleviate the difficulties of young farmers. ” he said.