Age group of Korean farmers widens with rise of young farmers and elders returning from cities
Arirang News
2018-05-08
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Though Korea might be one of the world's most urbanized countries, a small but growing number of people in their 20s and 30s are choosing to leave the city and live quiet but hard-working lives as farmers.
And to encourage them, rural towns have started holding classes to teach about their new career.
Cho Sung-min has more.
Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life in the city, an increasing number of people in their 20s and 30s are choosing an unexpected path, that of farming over desk jobs.
According to government data, more than ten thousand people annually are either heading or returning to the countryside since 2015.
To follow up with the trend, rural communities have started to offer free classes aimed at instruction young newcomers about farming techniques, equipment and know-hows...and Gyeonggi-do Province is one of them.
Since last year, the province has been running a 7-month curriculum with at least ten hours of lessons per month.
The lessons are proving to be very popular, with many participants asking for more similar lessons on other agricultural topics.
"I had no expertise and experience when I first started...but the class navigated the road for me, and made me confident about my work."
The number of programs and activities related to farming and harvesting has increased as of recent to cater to the growing demand. While there are full-time programs aimed to train farmers-to-be, there are also less demanding programs that allow participants to learn about the rewards of being a farmer in gradual steps.
For instance, an annual program which kicks off in every April offers participants, mostly retirees, the chance to grow, maintain and harvest agricultural products in a customized piece of land of twelve square meters.
The program is popular since the participants can have farming experience while still living in urban zone.
Industry experts believe holding such programs has helped promote another way of life to wider audiences that transcends gender, background, and age.
Cho Sung-min, arirang news.
And to encourage them, rural towns have started holding classes to teach about their new career.
Cho Sung-min has more.
Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life in the city, an increasing number of people in their 20s and 30s are choosing an unexpected path, that of farming over desk jobs.
According to government data, more than ten thousand people annually are either heading or returning to the countryside since 2015.
To follow up with the trend, rural communities have started to offer free classes aimed at instruction young newcomers about farming techniques, equipment and know-hows...and Gyeonggi-do Province is one of them.
Since last year, the province has been running a 7-month curriculum with at least ten hours of lessons per month.
The lessons are proving to be very popular, with many participants asking for more similar lessons on other agricultural topics.
"I had no expertise and experience when I first started...but the class navigated the road for me, and made me confident about my work."
The number of programs and activities related to farming and harvesting has increased as of recent to cater to the growing demand. While there are full-time programs aimed to train farmers-to-be, there are also less demanding programs that allow participants to learn about the rewards of being a farmer in gradual steps.
For instance, an annual program which kicks off in every April offers participants, mostly retirees, the chance to grow, maintain and harvest agricultural products in a customized piece of land of twelve square meters.
The program is popular since the participants can have farming experience while still living in urban zone.
Industry experts believe holding such programs has helped promote another way of life to wider audiences that transcends gender, background, and age.
Cho Sung-min, arirang news.
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