The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is planning to develop some area within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) as massive ginseng fields, a ministry spokesman said yesterday. The ambitious project is designed to maintain the Korea's status as the suzerain nation of ginseng and to develop the product as a major export item, he said.
Under a mid and long-term project for the development of the ginseng industry, some 7,000 hectares of the DMZ will be developed for production of the 'recuperative' product until the year 2010, the spokesman said. An additional 79,000 hectare area covering coastal, island and isolated regions will also be cultivated to expand the supply base of ginseng, he said yesterday.
The ministry is poised to closely consult with the Ministry of Defense and the Kyonggi-do provincial government toward that end. "Upon wrapping up consultation with the relevant authorities, we are planning to set up facilities for ginseng growing on some areas of Yonchon and Pochon districts, where civilian passage is prohibited," said a ministry official.
Ginseng growing households have so far been suffering due mainly to diminished soil resulting from repetitive farming and damage from blights and insects. Developing the ginseng fields in the DMZ region is expected to provide the stable base for the supply of clean and high quality ginseng products, the ministry officials said.
In order to enhance the productivity of the ginseng industry, the ministry is seeking to increase the average growing area per household from the current 0.47 hectare to one hectare by the year 2010. "And the mechanization ratio will also be hiked to the level of 80 percent to reduce production costs," said one official.
With a view to differentiating domestic ginseng from foreign products, the ministry will increase the number of registered overseas brands of Korean ginseng products to 22 countries until 2004 froom the current seven nations like the Uniteddddd States and Japan.
Direct trading of ginseng with the countries with high demand like China will be promoted to expand exports. Ginseng will be encouraged as a major strategic export items with the aim of realizing $200 million and $300 million worth of exports by 2004 and 2010, respectively, according to the ministry plan.
"Despite its excellent efficacy, the share of Korean ginseng in the world market has continued to decline due mainly to a lack of research and development and advertising," added the official. Efforts will focus on a study of the effectiveness of the product and advertising so the results of clinical tests can be certified internationally, he said.
Korea times
2000.06.09
|
Newsdesk