신규 취농의 진입장애 해소 방안

Abstract

농업인구의 감소에 대응하기 위해 중앙 및 지방 정부는 신규 취농자 유치를 위해 다양한 노력을 펼치고 있다. 하지만 취농을 준비하고 실행에 옮기는 신규 취농자들이 겪는 장애는 쉽게 나아질 것 같지 않다. 연구자의 관점에서 보면 이들이 직면한 어려움의 구조적 원인이 무엇인가에 대한 체계적 접근이 아직까지 미흡하지 않은가 하는 생각이 든다.

이 보고서는 신규 취농자들이 취농을 준비하는 과정에서 그리고 실제 정착하는 과정에서 직면하는 각종 장애요인을 구명하였다. 그리고 그 해소방안은 기본적으로 신규 취농자로 하여금 사회적 자본을 형성하고, 단계적 취농을 준비할 수 있도록 지원하는 방향으로 이루어져야 한다고 제시하고 있다. 기존의 자금 지원 위주의 정책 방향과는 사뭇 다른 접근이다. 이 보고서에서는 이러한 기본 방향 아래 신규 취농의 진입장애 해소를 위해 다양한 세부 추진과제를 제시하고 있는데, 신규 취농 업무를 담당하는 정부 및 관련 기관의 담당자, 관련 농업인 단체 관계자, 그리고 관련 교육기관의 교사, 교수, 운영 담당자들의 업무 개선내용을 담고 있다. 이를 통해 신규 취농자들이 겪고 있는 고질적인 문제 해결의 방안을 제시하였다.

The purpose of this study was to develop strategies to lower entry barriers to farming. For the purpose, this study reviewed literatures, reassessed related systems, analyzed related statistics, surveyed new farmers and conducted case studies. The literature review identified four factors of entry barriers to farming: economic capital, professional competencies, market and social network. The reassessment of related systems uncovered the following findings: the new farmer supporting system has relatively weak areas such as the market and social network; the central government's new farmer fostering program has a structural barrier to most of new farmers; some recently launched programs for new farmers have limited effects with no standard patterns to follow; agricultural literacy programs to induce people into agriculture are needed. Analysis of related statistics revealed that the natural decrease of farmers due to old farmers' retirement accounts for the recent reduction of agricultural human resources; new farmers usually have limited resources, little experience of participating in agricultural organizations, and no agricultural education background. The results of surveys on new farmers and case studies showed that four entry barriers are valid: new farmers who are planning farming and who are starting up have different barriers from each other; new farmers who have prepared longer time and participate more actively in agricultural organizations are inclined to have lower barriers; and social network is the key entry barrier which should be lowered before other barriers. These research results led to develop a basic direction of strategies to lower entry barriers to farming: to assist new farmers to accumulate social capital by participating in agricultural organizations and to phase in farming with sufficient preparation. Under this direction, this study conducted case studies of non-agricultural sector and foreign countries and drew the following eleven specific measures to remove entry barriers to farming: ① support the farming apprenticeship of agricultural students; ② stimulate employment in agricultural corporations or big farms; ③ energize central and local networks for new farmers; ④ assist the capital build-up of new farmers; ⑤ develop and supply comprehensive manuals for new farmers; ⑥ provide competency-based financial aid package including educational support; ⑦ provide educational support for secondary and tertiary agricultural students; ⑧ provide education and incentives to agricultural production organizations; ⑨ improve the data collecting system to secure more precise data on new farmers; ⑩ strengthen the agricultural literacy education of the people; ⑪ build up the central and local administrative supporting system for newcomers' entry into farming.

Researchers: Ma Sang-jin, Chung Ki-Whan E-mail address: msj@krei.re.kr