Eco Farmland Project Secures 91.4 Billion Won in Government Funding

The Eco Farmland project, a next-generation agro-tourism complex currently being developed on reclaimed tidal flats in Mado-myeon and Seosin-myeon in Hwaseong City, has moved toward realization.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 3rd, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance confirmed on the 31st of last month that the infrastructure construction project funding for Eco Farmland requested by Gyeonggi Province totals 91.4 billion won.

Government funding for Eco Farmland was initially set at 61.5 billion won at the basic planning stage in July 2010, but Gyeonggi Province requested an additional 29.9 billion won based on the results of detailed design work completed last February.

The Eco Farmland project is being developed on 768 hectares (2.32 million pyeong) of the Hwawong District 4 Section, originally reclaimed for agricultural use, in which Gyeonggi Province, Hwaseong City, Korea Racing Authority, Suwon Livestock Cooperative, and Nongwoo Bio are participating for the first time nationwide to create a next-generation agro-tourism complex fostering new growth industries in rural areas including horse industry, seed industry, and agro-tourism.

Accordingly, the province and Korea Rural Community Corporation plan to award civil engineering contracts during the first half of the year and architectural design contracts in the second half to ensure that construction work proceeds as soon as possible.

Seo Sang-gyo, director of the Livestock and Forestry Bureau at Gyeonggi Province, said, "Although there are still many administrative procedures and permits to be completed, the greatest achievement is being able to commence the project. We will cooperate with related agencies to ensure construction proceeds promptly."

Meanwhile, participating organizations including Hwaseong City, Korea Racing Authority, Suwon Livestock Cooperative, and Nongwoo Bio, as well as local residents, welcomed the government funding confirmation and expressed their anticipation for rapid development of the Eco Farmland to discover new sources of rural income and create jobs.