Branching Out for Bigger Bucks: Soyang Agricultural Cooperative Revolutionizes Farm Income with Landscape Tree Production

Soyang Agricultural Cooperative in Wanju, Jeollabuk-do (Chairman Yoo Hae-gwang) has established Soyang-myeon as the largest azalea production area in the country and is contributing to increasing the income of local farmers by activating local food direct sales outlets.

Soyang-myeon was famous for peach farming until the 1980s. However, as prices fell due to overproduction and farm income decreased, many farmers stopped growing peaches, and the need to grow new crops emerged. Accordingly, Soyang Agricultural Cooperative formed a landscape tree seedling team in 2007 and promoted the azalea landscape tree project with the goal of increasing farm income. Soyang-myeon has a mountainous environment suitable for growing azaleas, making them suitable as an income crop.

Due to the nature of the landscape tree industry, there was a risk that payment settlement could become unstable during an economic downturn, but Soyang Agricultural Cooperative helped farmers achieve stable cultivation and sales through thorough financial management and issuance of tax invoices. In addition, we provided timely supply of farming materials needed by farmers, expanded support for items, and helped farmers earn more stable profits.

Yoo Hae-gwang, head of the cooperative, visits a landscaping tree farm and shows landscape tree seedlings growing in the house greenhouse.

Mr. Song Gyeong-rak (63, Shingyo-ri, Soyang-myeon), who is cultivating landscaping tree seedlings on 13,000 pyeong (42,975㎡), expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thanks to Nonghyup’s meticulous sales management and strong farming support, the farms were able to generate stable profits.” reported.

Currently, about 120 farms (70 ha) are participating in Soyang Agricultural Cooperative’s landscaping tree seedling project. Last year, it accounted for more than half of the nation’s azalea production and recorded annual sales of 27 billion won, making Soyang-myeon the ‘town of azaleas.’

A few years ago, as farmers faced difficulties due to falling prices of landscaping trees, the economic downturn, and the burden of labor costs, Nonghyup is working closely with its members to stabilize prices by adjusting supply to meet demand. In addition, we are diversifying our products by adding various landscaping trees such as hydrangeas and rhododendrons in addition to azaleas, and are continuously seeking ways to reduce management costs and increase income.

At the local food direct store at Soyang Agricultural Cooperative Hanaro Mart in Wanju, Jeollabuk-do, trustworthy photos of the farmers who supplied the food are hung at each stall. This promotes the consumption of local agricultural products by showing the faces of farmers and the production process of agricultural products.

Meanwhile, Soyang Agricultural Cooperative has been operating a local food direct store for 11 years in line with the characteristics of a region with many retirees, contributing to increasing the income of small and medium-sized farms. Although it is a small store, it carries more than 200 types of fresh agricultural products and is attracting consumers from Jeonju and other regions. The average number of customers per day reached 1,000, and the annual sales of local food and Hanaro Mart grew to 6.11 billion won as of last year, an increase of 8.36% compared to the previous year.

Thanks to these achievements, Soyang Agricultural Cooperative recorded a net profit of 1.462 billion won last year. Accordingly, a total of 834 million won is being returned to union members as investment dividends and usage dividends, and providing subsidies for agricultural materials to help increase member income.

Chairman Yoo Hae-gwang said, “The growth of the Nonghyup was possible thanks to the constant support of our members.” He added, “We will continue to do our best to increase the income of our members by producing high-quality landscaping trees and revitalizing local food direct stores.”

Finished = Reporter Park Cheol-hyeon korea@nongmin.com