1. Research Goals and Methods

□ Research Goals

￮ Compared to traditional farmers, young farmers engaging in protected cultivation are better positioned to capitalize on production technologies due to their strong digital competencies, leaving significant room for them to develop innovative agricultural management strategies to take their marketing and distribution to the next level. 

￮ Given that young farmers are crucial for the future of agriculture, this study aimed to assess their current status and propose viable policy support measures while focusing on distribution strategies that dictate the agricultural income of young farmers.

□ Research Methods

￮ Status assessment: Using administrative data, we identified the current status of young farmers under the age of 45 in each of Jeonbuk State’s 14 cities and counties and analyzed the main aspects of their agricultural management and operations. 

￮ Surveys: We designed a structured questionnaire to ask 117 young farmers selected during the status assessment stage about their distribution channels and needs. We then collected their responses through email and mobile devices for statistical analyses. 

￮ Case studies: We selected cases of protected cultivation and distribution innovation from the government policy data on best youth farm startup practices for the last 2 years and examined them using qualitative meta-analysis. 

2. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations

□ Assessment of the Current Distribution Landscape Surrounding Young Farmers in Protected Cultivation   

￮ Agricultural products are currently being distributed through traditional distribution outlets (primary distribution points) and alternative distribution channels (supplementary distribution points). However, there remain opportunities for improvement in increasing sellers’ net proceeds. 

￮ Relevant stakeholders are proactively pursuing “sales innovation” to maximize farmers’ net proceeds and address price volatility while striving to secure sustainable delivery at agricultural distribution channels. 

□ Measures to Improve Distribution Mechanisms for Young Farmers Practicing Protected Cultivation

￮ It is crucial to create the roadmaps for both sustainable delivery and sales innovation that are tailored to the farm’s size, as well as to minimize and manage the risks associated with their implementation. 

￮ In a typical sales structure of agricultural products, the appropriate mechanism of an initial delivery point is determined by product shipment volume, time, and method. This necessitates steps that stabilize farmers’ net proceeds and assist them in efficiently managing price volatility concerns. 

□ Tangible Roadmaps and Related Action Plans for Advancing Agricultural Distribution Systems

￮ It is worth noting that although many consumers use and are willing to use traditional distribution channels (wholesale markets and cooperative marketing), more and more farmers market their products through alternative distribution channels (processing and selling, direct transactions, online, and direct sales outlets).

￮ Thus, we propose a valid and effective two-pronged strategy that combines 1) “stable shipment and distribution strategies” focused on ensuring stable agricultural sales through traditional distribution channels and 2) “sales innovation strategies” capitalizing on alternative distribution channels as complements. 

￮ To optimize agricultural distribution and sales through traditional distribution channels, the following action plans must be reviewed: encouraging participation by system organizations (e.g., joint distribution and marketing associations), reinforcing farmers’ response capabilities for wholesale market penetration and expansion, and promoting supply-to-production strategies for specialized distributors. 

￮ To revitalize alternative distribution channels preferred by farmers, it is of the utmost importance to support processing companies with their raw material contracts, strengthen the presence of local food at direct sales outlets, and promote online direct transaction platforms

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