Plans to Help Forestry Households Overcome Their CRISIS through Their Linkage to a 6th Industry in South KOREA

Abstract

Agroforestry is a very important industry that provides people with food resources. However, the forestry households of South Korea are facing a crisis that will have critical impacts on the provision of food resources in the nation. This study set out to examine problems with the forestry households of the nation by looking into their current management and conducting an interview with forestry household managers. It also aimed to search for plans to overcome the issues faced by forestry households and promote the development of the forest industry. This study examined the current population of forestry households, the age of managers, the number of forestry household members, and the current income of forestry households as well as the age of forestry managers, the members of forestry households, and the income trends of the forestry industry and anticipated that the phenomena of forestry managers leaving the industry and forestry households shrinking would continue in the long run. An interview was conducted with 11 forestry household managers around the nation to examine the actual management of forestry households. They pointed out such major problems as difficulties with securing clients, issues with the gathering and storage of forest products, and challenges with product distribution and sales. Based on these findings, the study proposed the following measures to help the forestry households overcome their economic crisis in the nation: first, they should form a cooperative of forestry households to create an opportunity for the forest industry to evolve into a 6th industry; and secondly, the government should provide a variety of supportive programs to ensure the vitalization of distribution.