Korea's Extension System
Field Trip 1: Korea's Extension System
The Rural Development Administration (RDA) at the national level, Agricultural Research and Extension Services at the provincial level, and Agricultural Extension Center at the city/county level were visited to learn about how the government leads the research-extension system for dissemination of advanced technology.
The National Institute of Horticulture and Herbal Science was visited and, as the primary agency of the RDA, the institute is responsible for developing new technologies in horticulture crops & herbal crops. At the Jeollabuk-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services, participants were exposed to the planning, discovering and disseminating of rural development projects according to different regional characteristics. Part of this field trip was also a visit to the Samnye Cultural Art Village, displayed as a success case of local culture, where jobs are developed and art and culture promoted. Finally, at the Gimje-Si Agricultural Technology Center, participants discussed the dissemination of R&D achievements by the RDA and the Agricultural Technology Institute.
Elliot Zwane, who took part in this field trip, reported: "Korea has a residual testing laboratory which tests water and the presence of heavy metal in some of the products produced. The report is essential when exporting goods to international markets to earn foreign currency for local development."
Value Chain
Field Trip 2: Value Chain
This field trip provided a learning experience on the value chain approach. Places visited included an agricultural product processing center, a local food store, a small scaled start-up farm, and an educational farm.
At the Gunsan-Si Agricultural Technology Center, participants were exposed to the control towers of local agriculture, such as technical support for strengthening the competitiveness of local agriculture and farmers. Moving to the Processing Center, participants witnessed how products headed towards the commercialization of agricultural processed foods, supply for school meals and a local food store. After visiting an educational farm and a local food store where it is the farmers who determine the prices, the visit was concluded at a small-scale start-up farm, which was awarded the best prize in an idea contest for agro-food processing in 2015.
Smart-Farming
Field Trip 3: Smart-Farming
This field trip included a visit to a smart-farming research and test-bed using ICT in RDA and outstanding smart-farm. Also, the fourth industrial revolution, such as ICT application case in farming and development plan of smart-farming, was showcased.
Participants were exposed to the status of Korean Smart Farm R&D, and were able to grasp the quick measurement technology of crop growing information, artificial intelligence engines, and ICT-based customized cloud big-data systems. The visit continued with a visit to the Buyeo-gun Agricultural Technology Center, where the RDA works on the dissemination of agricultural technologies that it researches and develops. Two farms were visited: a rural education farm (roof tile village), and a smart-farming center (Udeumji), with major facilities for an environmental control system, a hydroponic cultivation facility, air heat pump, amongst many others.
Rural Youth
Field Trip 4: Rural Youth
The training program for fostering rural youth and encouraging them to engage in agriculture was introduced through this field visit to the Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries, and a visit to a successful rural youth’s farm producing traditional snacks and breeding livestock.
At the National College, participants saw the program and facilities where professional farmers and fishermen are trained with knowledge, skills, and international awareness for the development of rural areas, and continued with a visit to the Namwon-Si Agricultural Technology Center, an institute that provides technology guidance for farmers through new technology and empirical research projects. In the area of landscaping, participants went to Gwanghanlu (Namwon-Si), a representative garden often considered the mother of Korea's unique landscaping style. The visited was concluded at a Young Farmers Farm, where they had the opportunity to understand the history and tradition of Korean traditional snacks.
Farmers' Groups
Field Trip 5: Farmers' Groups
Visit to the farmer’s study group and Korea Extension Specialist’s group that are operating self-learning activities for farmer and extension agents. The various studies on income generating model of farmer’s group and organizational characteristics were discussed. Also, the activity of Korean Rural Leaders Central Association, Rural Women Leader’s Federation and 4-H.
At the Rural Human Resources Development Center, participants discussed how to foster expertise in the fields of agricultural research, extensionist and administrative civil servants for preventive response to agricultural environment changes and future industrialization. The day also included discussions on a group study for apples, especially focused on pest control and increasing productivity, a distribution center, and, finally, a model local community (Sol-ti rice-cake village), an awarded facility where the RDA cooperates in the promotion of public relations through the support of agriculture-related rice cake industry development project.
