Greener pastures?

Middle-age people work in a field in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, as part of a training program by an agricultural center as they prepare to move from the city to become full-time farmers after being sidelined from the labor market in the bad economy. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki

Wealthy farmers

on the rise, official

figures show

By Lee Hyo-sik

The number of farmers making over 100 million won ($94,000) annually has increased for four straight years thanks to local farms having expanded in size, and the cultivation of more high-valued commercial crops and livestock.

According to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Monday, 16,401 farmers earned 100 million won or more in 2012, up 2.8 percent from the previous year. Those making 1 billion won per year reached 184.

The number of agricultural corporations generating revenue of over 200 million won rose 16.7 percent to 890 over the one-year period.

The ministry attributed the jump in the number of high-income farmers largely to rising productivity as a result of new farming techniques and the modernization of agricultural facilities.

``Wealthy individual farmers and agricultural corporations have increased in number for a fourth straight year as they grow more commercial crops and raise livestock on a larger scale,’’ a ministry official said. ``Additionally, they have been able to cultivate more, thanks to the modernization of farming equipment and facilities and the introduction of new techniques.’’

He said the ministry will introduce more policies designed to help farmers produce high-value agricultural and livestock products that consumers want.

``We will cut the costs associated with delivering farm products to consumers from farmers in order to benefit both sides. In cooperation with farmers, the government will try to transform many agricultural villages into tourist attractions for urban residents,’’ the official said

The ministry said about 37 percent of wealthy farmers earning over 100 million won, or 6,242, resided in North Gyeongsang Province, followed by South Jeolla Province at 17 percent and Gyeonggi Province at 13 percent.

By sector, those raising cows, pigs and other livestock accounted for 41 percent of high-income farmers, or 7,035, followed by fruit growers at 17 percent.

By age, 50-somethings accounted for 50 percent of the total, or 8,368, followed by those in their 40s at 20 percent.

The ministry plans to provide more extensive financial and other support to help boost the number of high-income farmers and agricultural corporations to 30,000 by 2017.