Blog 6- 4-H: The Foundation for Fostering Young Farmers in Korea

In this blog, Dr Song Yong-sup reflects on the evolution of 4-H Clubs in Korea and how it is fostering young farmers.

INTRODUCTION

In late spring, ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, I vividly remember taking my first step into public office. After completing military service, the first task given at the front-line site as a young man and a first-time public official was to foster 4-H with rural teenagers in their 20s. At that time along with the 4-H members, the Olympic torch relay road was created as a cosmos flower road. Also the 4-H outdoor training activities, such as camping, were held in forests and valleys in the middle of summer. A 4-H competition and fair festival was also held for rural youth to exhibit their projects’ accomplishments in the harvest season. By publishing the 4-H Bulletin every month containing these activities, I spent valuable time sharing my life with customers and members of 4-H who were the same age as me.

Special Lecture on Developing 4-H Clubs by Dr Song Yong-sup (November 2022)

Since it was a time when Ichonhyangdo (rural to urban migration), was at its peak, fostering teenagers growing up in poor rural areas was more important than anything else, but it did not receive much public attention as it was difficult. This is because agriculture was recognized as a declining industry, and there was no hope anymore, so youth were escaping from the rural areas. However, in retrospect, it would have been difficult to lay the foundation for fostering young farmers that this era desperately demanded if we had not fostered and developed the 4-H club with the sense of a calling and patience necessary for the times. Also, they would never have been able to raise many 4-H graduates who have since grown to be good leaders in the country and community.

THE 4-H CLUB

The 4-H club, which is active in more than 70 countries around the world, was founded in 1911 when it organized rural youth clubs spread throughout the United States; in Korea it was introduced mainly in Gyeonggi-do Province in 1947 during the U.S. military government (Box 1). After the Korean War in 1950, it was adopted as a government policy project in 1952 in accordance with the need for rural promotion and youth guidance, and the first 4-H Central Competition was held in 1954.

Summer camping of 4-H Members

4-H is an organization that supports various educational and other activities (Box 2) for teenagers since they be the leaders of the future of Korea. This will help them grow into democratic citizens and thus contribute to the local community and national development that is based on the four ideologies of Ji (Head), Deok (Heart), Noh (Hands), and Chae (Health). 4-H is attached to rural areas through youth career guidance and helps them enter farming and grow into young farmers. The 4-H association consists of students 4-H, universities 4-H, and youth farmers 4-H, depending on the age and organizational characteristics – from 7-year olds to 39-year olds – and several developmental efforts are required in the future.

Youth farmers 4-H, a key organization in rural areas, are sometimes confused with social organizations or community service organizations despite their important value as learning organizations. 4-H emphasizes learning to acquire new knowledge and skills through an educational method called ‘project’. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and distribute various practical programs centered on hands-on activities by discovering the educational needs and desires of young farmers. Joint tasks operated by some cities and counties are becoming a good means of learning to share new technologies and information among members, and forming a bond through collaboration.

4-H members must have practical authority and participate autonomously and actively. The initiative for business activities is with the institution that fosters, and members should not just stay at the level of participation. Recently, operating a drone control group centered on 4-H members is a developmental field case. We need to make use of the great 4-H creed of ‘learning by doing, good things better’. As of 2021 the country has more than 70,000 members including 1,087 members of universities 4-H, and 7,026 members of youth farmers 4-H.

Middle school 4-H members being provided with relevant field experiences

STRENGTHENING 4-H: THE WAY FORWARD

If the members of the 4-H headquarters, a well-organized 4-H senior group nationwide, become mentors and pass on their valuable experience as resource leaders, 4-H will be able to develop further.

40^th 4-H Award ceremony (December 2019)

In addition, it is necessary to further revitalize the university 4-H and expand the International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE), which began in 1963, so as to develop the expertise and global leadership abilities of future generations, for crises such as climate change, food shortages, and rural regeneration.

END NOTE

In order to overcome the aging of rural areas along with the disappearance of local areas, fostering young farmers is the most urgent and important solution. Young farmers are rural jewels, and the factory where they grind and polish jewelry is 4-H. As a leading player in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, Korea should continue to write about the 75 years of proud 4-H history by incorporating it into the spirit of the new era. I am happy to feel valued and rewarded now by the pride that 4-H is becoming the mother who fostered the good young farmers of today.

This blog is an updated version of the article by the author that appeared in Chungbuk Daily Newspaper (June 26, 2022) in the Korean language.

Dr Song Yong-sup , holds a PhD in Education from Graduate School, Seoul National University, and served as the Director General of Chungbuk-do Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services. Recently, he published a book (NongdamMidam) on the future stories of agriculture; and through monthly newspaper columns and nationwide lectures, he emphasizes the need to see agriculture as a hope industry and rural areas as healing spaces for people. Dr Song is also a member of the APIRAS Steering Committee.

Other Publications

Scaling agroecology using video in Africa and India

This manual is a tool for produce growers to learn about food safety risks and apply that knowledge to review their farm practices and operations to identify where food safety improvements may be needed. By following the guidelines and recommendations outlined in this manual, growers can assess their current practices and take proactive steps to enhance the safety and quality of their fresh produce.

Produce growers worldwide play a pivotal role in nourishing our communities, providing essential sustenance, and contributing to local economies. However, with increasing attention on food safety and environmental sustainability, growers face ever-evolving challenges. It has become imperative to adapt to a new era of best practices, embracing modern techniques and standards that ensure both the health of consumers and the vitality of our planet. This detailed Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) manual was developed to meet this need by enhancing the current Nepal GAPs for fresh produce growers. The primary goal is to empower produce growers with the knowledge, tools, and guidelines necessary to navigate the complex landscape of fresh produce safety and GAPs.

Digital Inclusion Through WOTR’s FarmPrecise Mobile Application

The majority of smallholder farmers in developing countries lack access to location-specific science-based information. Although digital advisory tools can potentially help such farmers in accessing information, often blanket recommendations and obsolete content shared through these digital tools discourage farmers from using them. Farmers need relevant information and knowledge which they can adopt in their specific situations, which can thus help them enhance their productivity and income from farming. Keeping these in view the Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR) developed FarmPrecise Application in 2019 with the support of Qualcomm Wireless Reach programme. WOTR adopted a holistic approach to digital tool deployment, especially for reaching women who often face barriers in digital access and proficiency. This comprehensive approach involved capacity building of women by providing digital skill trainings, building social capital to reach more women, and instilling a sense of empowerment among them by enhancing their participation in decision making. In this Good Practice Note, we highlight how FarmPrecise, an innovative digital solution developed by WOTR, is ensuring digital inclusion of women farmers and empowering them to overcome the barriers of gender digital divide.

Digital Mapping for Inclusive Rights on Forest Land and Resources by PRADAN in Odisha

Securing the rights of forest dwellers on forest land and resources is crucial for their livelihood development as well as for forest protection, conservation and climate benefits. However, for decades, forest-dwelling communities have been struggling to secure their rights on forest land and resources, the absence of which is preventing them from securing the various benefits offered by government schemes in terms of education, healthcare, and agricultural development. Recognising these issues, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA) was passed by the Government of India. This Act enabled the forest dwellers to claim their customary and traditional rights on forest land and resources through Individual Forest Rights (IFR), Community Rights (CR), and Community Forest Resources Rights (CFRR). However, the intricacies involved in the claim-making process posed a major challenge for these marginalized communities. In this context, PRADAN, one of India’s leading NGOs, has been facilitating the forest rights-claiming process in Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Over the years, PRADAN has achieved a major breakthrough by getting the claims accepted by the government using a digital mapping tool. This Good Practice Note describes how PRADAN is assisting in digital land mapping and documentation to expedite the claim process under the Forest Rights Act-2006 in Rayagada, Odisha, thereby ensuring the digital inclusion of forest dwelling communities (Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes [FDSTs] and other traditional forest dwellers [OTFDs]) in forest areas.