▲ Gwangil Seeding / CEO Ju Jae-pil

(PowerKorea) Securing good seeds can sometimes decide success or failure of a farmer. The seeding industry in South Korea has seen a steady growth and experts predict the market will reach 500 billion won ($447 million) after 5 years. It is encouraging that Korean seeding companies have also steadily increased export volume which makes industry bright. 

Ju Jae-pil, CEO of Gwangil Seeding, used to cultivate watermelon for 20 years in Haman County, South Gyeongsang Province. It all started with a village project that he came to know about seeding but he was the one who proactively engaged in the project. Then a chance came: he was designated as a promising farmer in the field of horticulture in 1998. 

“More than half of the seeds at Gwangil Seeding are watermelon as I have cultivated it for the last 20 years. In other words, the more selling of Haman watermelon the more money I earn. It is my job to bring up better and more efficient seeding systems to farmers and this way we can benefit each other” says Ju.

Gwangil Seeding is nestled in Wolchon-ri, Haman, where 70% of watermelon supplied nationwide in December and January comes from here. Ju is cultivating a variety of fruits including watermelon, melon, oriental melon, chili pepper, pear and barley on the 10,560㎡ big Gwangil Seeding field. 

“There is a saying among farmers: seeding is the half of the farming. In other words, I and my team feel a great sense of responsibility in producing high quality seeding required from our clients not to mention supplying the fruits in set time. We are proud to say that our seeds are sold nationwide over Haman, Jinju, Yeongyang, Bonghwa and Buyeo.”

Last month, Ju took the steering wheel of the Korean Advanced Farmers Federation Haman. The first thing he did was to appeal to the government to provide support for watermelon farmers who hit harder by the pandemic and he and the farmers in the region received pandemic stimulus. At the same time, he provided seeds for farmers to keep trying two and three times if the first crop fails for sustainable farming.

“We farmers have gone through harsh times in history. We are hardworking and enduring people and we will win the fight against the pandemic as we always did in history. Haman is the main producing field of watermelon in South Korea. We are proud of this and we will work hard to produce and supply quality watermelon to the people.”

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