President Park Geun-hye on Friday reiterated her calls to develop the agricultural sector into a future growth engine by incorporating cutting-edge technologies, cultural content, tourism and other creative ideas.
During an agricultural fair in Seoul, Park, in particular, pledged to support the "sixth industrialization" of agriculture, a term referring to the integration of primary, secondary and tertiary industries to create greater value-added agricultural goods and services.
"The government will do its utmost to ensure that more people can realize their dreams in the agricultural field, and that our agricultural sector can become a new growth dynamo," she said during the fair, called "2016 A Farm Show."
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President Park Geun-hye gives a speech at an agricultural fair, called "2016 A Farm Show," in Seoul on Aug. 26. (Yonhap) |
To foster the farming sector into a future-oriented industry, Park stressed the need to capitalize on information and communications technologies (ICT) and biotechnologies to boost productivity and enhance the quality of agricultural products.
In line with this, she called for continued efforts to expand "smart farms" that employ cutting-edge technologies in the production, storage, packaging, marketing and distribution phases.
Such a process can sharpen the competitiveness of the agricultural industry.
Noting that an increasing number of young people, armed with creative ideas, have been tapping into the agricultural sector, the president pledged to expend government support to help them start their farm ventures.
Touching on a set of issues facing rural areas, including the low-income problem, Park highlighted that achieving the "sixth industrialization" of agriculture and fostering the sector as a competitive export industry will be the key to resolving many shortcomings.
"The government will actively support the sixth industrialization of agriculture through addressing difficulties facing those out on the fields by drastically enhancing the regulatory system," the chief executive said. "Expanding our agricultural exports to the global market also remains a very crucial task."
The three-day agricultural fair, "A Farm Show," was hosted by the local daily Dong-A Ilbo and broadcaster Channel A. It set up 170 booths offering information on various agricultural businesses and ventures. (Yonhap)
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