Background of Research
To enlarge organic and pesticide-free acreage and prepare for the abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification, it is necessary to develop effective policy programs. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of abolishing the low-pesticide agricultural product certification on environment-friendly farming, and propose a response strategy to develop environment-friendly agriculture.

Method of Research
A telephone survey was conducted to quantitatively analyze farming practices and factors that change farming practices among 650 farmers nationwide (250 grain farmers, 200 fruit farmers, and 200 vegetable farmers). With regard to the factors of farming practice change, this study used a binomial logistic regression model to analyze the factors that change farming practices. The analysis results were used to derive policy directions for developing environment-friendly agriculture.

Research Results and Implications
The survey result shows that by age, those in their 60s accounted for 34.9% of the survey participants, and those in their 50s accounted for 31.8%. So in total, farmers in their 50s and 60s accounted for 66.7% of the total participants. By province, those in the Gyeonggi province accounted for 19.2%, Gyeongbuk 16.9%, Jeonnam 14.3%, Jeonbuk 13.8%, and Gyeongnam 10.5%. More than 70 percent of them have been practicing environment- friendly agriculture for 5 to 15 years.
Thirty two percent of organic farmers said that the annual financial support they receive from the local government is over 810,000 won, and 21.9% said that it is between 210,000 to 400,000 won. In the case of 38.1% of pesticide-free farmers and 49.3% of low-pesticide farmers, the financial support was below 200,000 won.
In response to the upcoming abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification in 2016, 36.4% of low-pesticide farmers said that they will change their farming practice into organic or pesticide-free farming. But in the case of low-pesticide fruit farmers, only 17.0% said that they will change their farming practice into organic or pesticide-free farming. As for the timing of their transition to other farming practices, 48.0% of low-pesticide farmers (48.3% in the case of low-pesticide fruit farmers) said that they will change their farming practice in 2016. In 2012, when fruits had a very little share of organic and non-pesticide agricultural products, fruits accounted for 63% of low-pesticide certification, and it is expected that the supply of fruits will decrease sharply in 2016.
In the binomial logistic analysis, it was found that farmers who grow low-pesticide agricultural products are more likely to change their farming practice into organic or pesticide-free farming, as their expected price of organic or pesticide-free products is high, their area size is small, price premium of low-pesticide agricultural product is low, and the frequency of their training is high. The marginal effect of explanatory variables was analyzed as 23.9% price premium, 16.3% expected price, 5.8% contentment of support, 2.1% training, and 0.004% acreage.
In response to the abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification, effective policy programs should be developed. It is necessary to enhance the direct payment system to enlarge organic and pesticide-free acreage, and pest management techniques for fruits should be developed for low-pesticide fruit farmers to change their practice into organic and pesticide- free practice. Dissemination of cultivation manual, introduction of insurance to farmers, improvement of certificate system, and advertising and marketing of environment-friendly agricultural products are useful to develop environment- friendly agriculture.

Researchers: Jeong Hak-Kyun and Moon Dong-Hyun
Research period: 2012. 11. - 2013. 3.
E-mail address: hak8247@krei.re.kr