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| A researcher at the Rural Development Administration (RDA) shows how to operate a machine to process harvested crops in Zimbabwe on May 13, 2015. / Courtesy of RDA |
By Lee Hyo-sik
The Rural Development Administration (RDA), the state-run agricultural research institute, has been operating three consultative groups for Asia, Africa and South America to offer more tailored, field-oriented help to farmers there.
The agency, which has been sharing its agricultural know-how and expertise with developing nations for years, established the Asian Food & Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI) in November 2009 as a consultative body with 11 Asian nations. It now has 12 members after Kyrgyzstan joined in April last year.
In July 2010, RDA launched the Korea-Africa Food & Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) with 19 countries across the continent.
In September last year, it also formed the Korea-Latin America Food & Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KoLFACI) with its counterparts in 13 South American nations.
"We have set up technical consultative groups for each of the three continents to provide more region-specific technical support," an RDA spokesman said. "Each region has different needs from us because climate and other growing conditions are different from one another. The three multilateral bodies have raised Korea's profile as a leader in agriculture across the developing world."
Through the AFACI, the RDA has been helping its Asian partners boost their agricultural productivity. RDA researchers train farmers in host nations on how to control pests more effectively, reinforce irrigation facilities and breed more disease-resistant, high-yield crop seeds.
"We have transferred techniques and know-how to our Asian counterparts to enable them to increase yields and achieve a sustainable agricultural industry," he said. "Kyrgyzstan joined the AFACI in 2014 and many more countries want to become members. This proves that we have made a difference for them."
Countries AFACI has helped include the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand. In addition, the RDA has been offering help to African nations through KAFACI since 2010, including Ethiopia, Cameroon, Angola and Uganda. It has provided information on how to cope effectively with diseases and pests affecting rice and other crops.
It has also transferred a wide range of agricultural techniques to increase production, develop disease-resistant crops and manufacture and operate farm machinery.
"Many African countries want to learn how to successfully advance their agriculture and improve living conditions in rural communities," the spokesman said. "Through the initiative, we have built a win-win system with our counterparts in Africa."
RDA has also been running its third initiative with 13 South American nations, including Bolivia, Costa Rica and Honduras, this year, expanding its reach to the largely agriculture-centered continent.
"We have just begun working together with our counterparts in Latin America," he said. "They showed a great deal of interest in learning how Korea has modernized its agriculture. We will dispatch more researchers to South America and invite government officials and private-sector experts to Korea to promote cooperation."
The RDA's Korea Project on International Agriculture (KOPIA) centers have been implementing the initiatives. There are 20 KOPIA centers on the three continents (eight in Asia, six in Africa and six in South America).
The RDA, founded in 1906, has its headquarters in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, and operates four research affiliates specializing in crops, horticulture, herbs and livestock.
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