South Korean farmers face climate risks amid slow smart farm adoption

A report by the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) reveals that facility horticulture farmers in South Korea are facing significant production instability due to extreme weather, including heatwaves, heavy rains, and insufficient sunlight. Approximately 71.8% of surveyed farmers reported damage from heatwaves, while 70.6% experienced damage from heavy rainfall over the last three years. Tomato farmers appeared more vulnerable to heatwaves, with 87.6% reporting impact, compared to 53.2% of strawberry farmers.

Despite the increasing risks, the adoption of advanced smart farm technologies remains low. While basic facilities are often in place, the use of high-cost equipment such as sensors, monitoring systems, and automated decision-making tools is limited. For strawberry farmers, 62.8% cited initial investment costs as the primary barrier to adopting smart farm technology. Tomato farmers showed a higher willingness to adopt new technologies but still face challenges regarding cost and profitability uncertainty.

The report suggests that government support should be tailored to specific crops. Experts recommend expanding field demonstrations and pilot projects to allow farmers to experience these technologies directly, rather than focusing solely on the development and distribution of new equipment.