Research Reports
A Study on the Current State and Development Strategies of Raising Seedlings Industry
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AuthorPark, Kihwan
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Publication Date2011.11.30
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Original
Raising seedlings is the precondition of agricultural production, and it is so important that it is no exaggeration to say the success of agricultural production depends on it. The seedling industry is also the base industry of agricultural production since it can induce division of labor and specialization. As the number of farmers who use a seedling farm has been increasing in recent years, the size of land for raising seedlings was significantly expanded from 20 ha in 1997 to 159 ha in 2010, and it is anticipated that the size will increase further in the future.
Accordingly, it is necessary to identify the industry trends, analyze the current state of the seedling industry, and present a strategy to develop the industry.
In order to identify the state of seed supply at seedling farms, 17 seed companies, which are members of Korean Seed Association, were surveyed. As for the state of production and sale of seedlings, 70 seedling suppliers were surveyed. The results of a survey of 740 farmers were analyzed to identify the state of seedling usage, and 51 experts who are members of the seedling research club 'Plugseedling' were surveyed to identify the technology level of the seedling culture and make a priority list for policy support. To examine the management efficiency of seedling companies, the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used, and the Delphi method was used to examine the level of seedling technology. As for the method of drawing up the policy priority list, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used.
In order to address the problems that were found in the examination of the current state of the seedling industry, an advanced system of raising seedlings has to be established to supply high-quality, superior seedlings and stabilize agricultural production. The detailed development strategies to achieve this goal are as follows:
First, as the technology level of raising seedlings lags behind advanced countries in many aspects, individual effort by the seedling companies is required. Also, it is necessary to make a precise diagnose of the current technology level with the assistance of academic researchers and develop technologies suitable for the seedling environment of each seedling farm. The education and distribution of the seedling technologies should then be carried out through a system.
Second, it is necessary to increase R&D investment for seed breeding companies to develop superior breeds and link it with active support policies of the government. Also, it is necessary to seek higher efficiency of seedling production by developing advanced seedling materials and automation technology.
Third, it is important to improve the management efficiency of seedling companies through professional manpower, automation facilities, and energy-saving facilities and promote seedling export to secure the new demand created by increased urban agriculture.
Fourth, creation of infrastructure for each phase of seedling production, as well as active government support, is essential for the seedling industry's development. Also, it will be necessary to establish a system that can solve seedling-related disputes and prepare systematic means, such as a seedling supplier registration system, to supply uniform seedlings and protect and foster the seedling industry.
Researchers: Ki-Hwan Park, Hyun-Tae Park and Hye-Sung Han
E-mail address: kihwan@krei.re.kr
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