Suwon Agricultural Technology Center Recruits Organizations for 'Urban Ecological Agriculture Activation Support Project'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] The Suwon Agricultural Technology Center is recruiting non-profit organizations and institutions to implement the '2020 Urban Ecological Agriculture Activation Support Project' from the 13th through the 3rd of next month.

The 'Urban Ecological Agriculture Activation Support Project' was established to enhance understanding of agriculture through urban agriculture education and creation of ecological spaces, and to promote sustainable urban ecological agriculture.

The Agricultural Technology Center provides budget support. Projects are implemented by non-profit organizations and institutions selected through annual public recruitment.

This year, the center will provide 160 million won to support six projects: ▲Urban Agriculture Academy operations ▲Early childhood garden program operations ▲Apartment therapeutic agriculture education operations ▲Urban garden program operations ▲Welfare support utilizing therapeutic agriculture ▲School therapeutic garden creation and operations.

The Urban Agriculture Academy is a program that cultivates professional personnel through systematic theory and practical training in urban ecological agriculture. It operates programs such as urban farmer school and children's farmer school targeting citizens and children.

The early childhood garden program operates eco-friendly education utilizing agricultural resources and correct eating habit formation education for 20 childcare facilities (infants and toddlers) within the city.

The apartment therapeutic agriculture education operates textile gardening and therapeutic agriculture education targeting apartment residents at 10 apartment complexes.

The urban garden program involves citizens and creates vegetable gardens in unused urban spaces, with various programs including exhibitions and harvest sharing events held.

The welfare support utilizing therapeutic agriculture provides therapeutic agriculture education at elderly welfare facilities to help dementia patients' health and prevent memory decline.

The school therapeutic garden creation and operations targeting elementary, middle, and high school students will conduct various educational programs including garden experience, horticultural therapy, and career exploration in agriculture at 15 schools in connection with school curriculum.

Non-profit organizations and corporations located in the city at the time of announcement and capable of faithfully implementing urban agriculture projects may apply. Applicants should prepare documents including subsidy support application forms and project plans and submit them to the Urban Agriculture Team at the Suwon Agricultural Technology Center.

Subsidy support application forms and other documents can be downloaded by searching for '2020 Ecological Agriculture Activation Support Project' in the 'City News' section on the city's website (http://www.suwon.go.kr).

The Suwon Agricultural Technology Center will evaluate project implementation capability, project plan validity, and budget compilation efficiency through deliberation by the Suwon Urban Ecological Agriculture Committee and plans to announce the selected organizations and institutions in February. For inquiries, contact the Urban Agriculture Team at the Suwon Agricultural Technology Center (031-228-2565).