Shinan County is implementing a phased support plan to expand market access for the Garden Plant Cooperative and alleviate challenges faced by its member farmers.
Following the recent formation of an emergency committee for the cooperative, county officials met with committee members on September 3 to listen to their concerns and discuss strategies for increasing plant sales.
The emergency committee, led by Chairman Kim Yong-jun, will work with the county to share relevant information and develop practical support measures.
Initially, the county plans to gather comprehensive data on the types, specifications, quantities, prices, and images of the plants held by the cooperative to create promotional and sales materials.
The support measures will be divided into short-term, medium-term, and long-term initiatives.
In the short term, the county will explore the possibility of utilizing the cooperative's plants in various public projects, including solar shielding plantings and environmental forest creation, which are currently underway or planned for this year.
The county will also consider linking future projects, such as the Palgeum Southwest Coastal Forest Restoration Project aimed for spring 2027 planting.
However, the actual scale of plant usage in public projects will depend on compliance with relevant laws, project guidelines, and specific requirements such as species, specifications, and origin.
In the medium term, the county aims to establish a database to systematically manage the trees held by the cooperative. This will help streamline information on species, specifications, and quantities, making it easier for buyers to identify the plants they need.
The county is also looking to expand distribution and sales networks beyond the public sector by collaborating with private nurseries and landscaping companies.
Long-term plans include broadening cooperation with 26 sister municipalities across the country and local governments in Jeonnam and Gwangju. The goal is to share information on the cooperative's plant inventory and regional demand to secure new market opportunities.
Kim Tae-sung, the mayor of Shinan County, stated, “With the formation of the emergency committee, we are continuously communicating with the cooperative to find feasible solutions. We will prioritize exploring possibilities for collaboration with public projects and continue to support small-scale member farmers.”
Meanwhile, Shinan County plans to gradually implement measures to link public projects, expand private distribution networks, and share demand information with other local governments, starting with the collection of basic data on the cooperative's plant inventory and available sales quantities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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