Cost-Effective Smart Farms Pave New Path for Wider Adoption

Smart farms, which have faced difficulties in widespread adoption due to high facility costs, are now opening new avenues for farmers by being distributed as practical models that integrate information and communication technology (ICT) into existing facilities.

Hwang Geum-taek, who has operated a greenhouse for 35 years, installed an affordable smart farm system last year that allows for farm temperature and humidity control, as well as CCTV monitoring. This enables him to manage his farm without having to stay up all night, even in unpredictable weather. The equipment Hwang installed is a budget-friendly model including a temperature/humidity controller, rain sensor, and CCTV. Out of a total cost of 8 million won, he only paid 25%, with the remaining 75% subsidized by Nonghyup (National Agricultural Cooperative Federation).

Nonghyup began distributing various practical smart farm facilities at low prices to older greenhouse farms last year, including environmental control systems, nutrient solution supply systems, and irrigation control systems. This year, they plan to invest 1.3 billion won to supply these systems to approximately 130 farms in the Jeonbuk region.

As the number of small-scale and aging facility farmers in Korea increases, affordable smart farm solutions integrated with ICT are transforming farmers' lives by enhancing productivity and convenience.