[President Moon Jae-in inspects a cooling house-type smart farm in Wanju on December 12, 2019. [Yonhap Photo]]
A smart farm is an automated indoor farm. Because it protects crops from the outside environment, farmers can stably grow plants without having to worry about bad weather and vermin. Researchers are trying to resolve an overall manpower shortage in South Korea's rapidly aging agricultural society and help farmers increase their productivity.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement on May 24 that the construction of a one-hectare-wide greenhouse-type smart farm began in Almaty, Kazakhstan's heart of trade, for completion by October 2021. "Starting with the construction of the smart farm, we hope to export our technology and smart farm systems to Kazakhstan," an agriculture ministry official was quoted as saying.
The ministry said that the smart farm would withstand heavy rain and snow. The greenhouse will grow Kazakhstan's favorite vegetables including tomatoes and cucumbers as well as strawberries. The farm will be used as a testing ground for local university students to learn the know-how of smart farm management and technologies.
South Korea has unveiled a strategy to sell smart farm technologies to countries located in high-altitude areas and deserts. KT, the country's top telecom company, started the commercial operation of smart farms in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. The Rural Development Administration, a state agricultural research institution, targets the Middle East market with cooling house-type smart farms that can protect crops from extreme heat.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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