{"id":2204850,"date":"2024-04-25T17:51:14","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T08:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204850"},"modified":"2024-04-26T15:26:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T06:26:39","slug":"south-korean-smart-farm-companies-face-uphill-battle-in-middle-east-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/04\/south-korean-smart-farm-companies-face-uphill-battle-in-middle-east-market\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korean smart farm companies face uphill battle in Middle East market"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korea\u2019s smart farm sector presents a promising opportunity for the country to bolster its agricultural productivity and food security, but Korean companies seeking to enter the Middle Eastern market with their smart farm technologies face significant risks, including economic instability and the need for long-term investments.<\/span><\/p>\n The Yoon Suk-yeol administration has made securing food at <\/span>lower costs and in larger quantities<\/span><\/a> a key policy goal, as South Korea\u2019s agri-food sector has suffered from the realities of <\/span>climate change<\/span><\/a> and international conflicts.<\/span><\/p>\n To achieve its goal, the Yoon administration is doubling down on the previous Moon Jae-in administration\u2019s <\/span>commitment<\/span><\/a> to foster <\/span>smart farms<\/span><\/a> that allow producers to manage production activities remotely and automatically, reducing working hours and operating costs.<\/span><\/p>\n However, despite the government\u2019s promotion efforts and sustained sectoral growth, the domestic adoption of smart farms still faces obstacles.<\/span><\/p>\n AGING FARMERS<\/b><\/p>\n South Korea\u2019s rural areas face significant challenges in adopting smart farm technologies due to an aging agricultural workforce and depopulation. In 1971, only <\/span>7.6%<\/span><\/a> of the farming population was over 60, but by 2022, <\/span>nearly half<\/span><\/a> of all farmers were 65 or older.<\/span><\/p>\n Research<\/span><\/a> indicates that older farmers are less likely to adopt new agricultural technologies. They often struggle with technologies that are not intuitive, interoperable, or easy to understand without proper training. Moreover, convincing them of the value of high-cost investments proves difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n The Yoon administration has taken steps to encourage young people to pursue farming careers and has provided training in smart farm technologies. However, these efforts have had limited success, with <\/span>60%<\/span><\/a> of trainees abandoning their plans to start agricultural businesses due to high investment costs and challenges in securing arable land.<\/span><\/p>\n To address these issues, the government announced <\/span>plans<\/span><\/a> to relax land use regulations in February, allowing vertical farms to be set up in industrial complexes. It has also supported the establishment of <\/span>Smart Farm Innovation Valleys<\/span><\/a>. However, the three-year rental plots in these valleys can only support <\/span>25%<\/span><\/a> of the trainees.<\/span><\/p>\n