A public institution that supports Korea’s gardening industry is working to ensure that native plant species gain firmer footing or deeper rooting if you will here in the country.
Cha Yun-kyung explains.
At a horticultural farm in Sejong City, elsholtzia byeonsanensis, Chrysanthemum flowers, picris hieracioides are cultivated.
These are native plant species commissioned by the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute this year.
The species are appropriate for creating gardens with great ornamental value.
The plants grown by farms are sent to exhibitions or festivals, after being delivered to the Sejong National Arboretum.
“We can stably cultivate native plants by securing a market. I am getting massive help in building farming capacity.”
The Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute has worked in tandem with local farms for 5 years since 2019. The institute selects native plants of high quality, improves varieties of plants, and supplies them to horticultural farms in Sejong and Bongwha, along with cultivation techniques.
It also provides proceeds after securing a stable market for farms through contract cultivation.
The plants grown by farms are on display at the exhibition hall of the Sejong National Arboretum and Baekdudaegan National Arboretum, to meet consumers.
This process is beneficial for horticultural farms, arboretums, and also resident.
“Flower exhibitions and festivals need lots of plants, so they collaborate with local farmers who have facilities and expertise in farming plants. Farmers can make proceeds from this and people can enjoy beautiful flowers ”
The Sejong National Arboretum is also creating new jobs with educational plant kits targeting vulnerable social groups such as disabled people.
“I was so amazed that I could make a lotus flower garden by pouring water onto the seeds. I hope these kinds of products become more commercialized as disabled people also need to make a living”
Meanwhile, the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute has signed contracts with 73 farms, and the industry’s output value hit more than 1.4 million US dollars, as well as more than 29 million US dollars for local festivals.
Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=272637
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