Gimcheon City to Boost Fruit Growers' Competitiveness... Applications Open for FTA Facility Modernization

Applications Accepted Nov. 9-Dec. 4
Support for Five Crops, Including Grapes and Plums
Disaster-Prevention Facility Support Expanded, New Measures Added

Gimcheon City in North Gyeongsang Province will support facility modernization to help fruit growers respond to climate change and natural disasters and strengthen their production competitiveness.

A view of the Gimcheon City Agricultural Technology Center [Photo: Gimcheon City]

Gimcheon City said it will accept applications for the “2027 FTA Fund Project for Modernizing Facilities for High-Quality Fruit Production” from November 9 through December 4 at local agricultural cooperatives and the Gimcheon branch of Daegyeong Apple and Horticultural Cooperative.

The project supports facilities for producing high-quality fruit and preventing disasters, including rain-shelter structures, rain-shelter greenhouses, irrigation and fertigation systems, and multi-layer thermal curtains. It covers five crops: grapes, plums, peaches, apples, and pears.

Project funding consists of a 50% subsidy (20% from the national government and 30% from local governments), a 30% loan, and a 20% contribution from the applicant. Applicants must meet certain requirements, including a record of shipments through a producer organization and a commitment to ship at least 80% of their production for three or more years. However, new orchards will also be eligible for temporary support for disaster-prevention facilities through 2029.

In particular, new measures for 2027 will support the replacement of gutters on rain-shelter greenhouses for grapes and plums, as well as peach variety renewal, to improve facilities and fruit quality.

Gimcheon City also plans to strengthen construction accountability by selecting construction companies and allowing farmers to choose and contract with companies independently. Applications from construction companies seeking selection will also be accepted from November 9 through December 4, the same period as applications from farmers.

A Gimcheon City official said, “Climate change and natural disasters are increasing the burden on fruit growers,” adding, “We will provide active support to strengthen their ability to respond to disasters and expand the foundation for producing high-quality fruit.”

We are living in an era when climate change determines the survival of fruit growers. Support for facility modernization must go beyond simple equipment improvements and help stabilize farm incomes and strengthen the competitiveness of Gimcheon’s fruit industry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.