시설원예산업의 재도약 방안 -생산·수출 중심-

Abstract

1990년대 들어 정부의 농업경쟁력 제고대책으로 시설의 현대화가 이루어지고 유통 및 수출 부문에 대한 투자가 지속되면서 우리의 시설원예산업은 양적·질적으로 많은 발전을 이루었다. 그동안 시설원예산업의 성과를 평가한다면, 영농의 규모화와 전문화가 꾸준히 진행되어 농가소득 증대에 기여하였고, 고품질의 신선농산물 수출로 농업부문의 견인차 역할을 수행하였다. 그럼에도 불구하고 네덜란드와 같은 원예선진국에 비교하면 생산, 수출 등 전반적인 부문에서 그 수준이 낮은 편이다. 더욱이 1990년대 말 금융위기 이후 생산시설 현대화사업 등이 위축되면서 시설원예산업은 정체상태에 머물고 있다. 그러나 시설원예산업의 육성은 원예작물의 생산성 향상과 품질 향상을 위해 지속적으로 추진되어야 할 과제이다. 특히 수출산업으로 발전할 가능성이 크기 때문에 육성할 가치가 높은 것으로 평가되고 있다. 신정부에서도 간척지에 규모화된 첨단 온실단지를 조성하여 농식품 수출의 전진기지로 활용할 계획이다. 이 연구보고서에서는 시설원예농업에서 핵심 요소라 할 수 있는 품종선택, 에너지 이용 등 당면한 문제점을 검토한 후 이에 대한 개선방안을 제시하고 있다. 또한 정부는 2012년 농산물 수출 100억 달러 달성을 목표로 하고 있는데, 현행 원예농산물 수출시스템에 대한 검토를 거쳐 보다 효과적인 수출방안을 강구하고자 하였다.

The main goal of this research is to analyze the changing condition of the horticultural industry and present suggestions to improve its production and export sector. In detail, we reviewed the pending problems of the horticultural industry, that is problems related with selection of seeds, energy usage, and export, and made several recommendations in this regard. Even though our technological level and infrastructure for seed development lag behind those of developed countries, it seems that possibilities are enormous. The principal aim of developing seeds is to increase farm income by reducing royalty payments through the use of domestically developed seeds, and to develop the seed industry by seeking greater opportunities in domestic and overseas markets. To do so, seed development should be one that meets the taste of consumers. Second, we should develop a number of excellent seeds to replace imported ones. Third, in order to ensure export competitiveness, we need to develop seed varieties that importers want. Since horticultural production is dependent on energy, heating expenses have a direct impact on greenhouse horticulture. To reduce the burden of heating expenses, new renewable energy sources such as geothermal heat and wood pellets have been under review recently. According to economic analyses, geothermal heat pumps are more economical than diesel boilers in terms of fuel saving, production amount, CO2 reduction, etc. Also, wood pellets' caloric value is higher than that of wood chips. Wood pellets are easy to use and emit less pollutants, but are disadvantageous in that manufacturing process is complex and manufacturing cost is high. Nevertheless, the use of wood pellets in rural areas is far from prevalent due to the high cost of installing wood pellet stoves. To expand the use of renewable energy, the government needs to continuously provide assistance for renewable energy facilities. In this era of open market, horticultural crop export should be pursued actively to improve the quality and competitiveness of the local agricultural industry. This is so since agricultural produce cultivated at greenhouses are mostly export-driven and the success in expanding export sales has a huge impact on business performance. In order to expand horticultural export, first of all, the export volume should be secured in a stable manner, and it can be achieved by systematically running a relevant organization and unifying contact points through binding agreements. Second, the competitiveness in terms of quality and reliability could be enhanced by continuously developing new technologies and improving production facilities and by making a one-stop logistics system possible from harvest to export. Also, focusing on differentiated production through the development of various packaging arrangements and designs that are suitable for target markets is a strategy that can enhance the marketability of produced commodities. Third, in order to lay down a stable production base, organizations that specialize in export and one particular commodity should be fostered to handle all operations from production to export.