It’s not easy for farmers to take care of heating, cooling, and ventilation in their greenhouses, but some have made their lives significantly easier by performing those tasks through their smartphone. Mike Laidman has the details.

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Hamdeok-ri, Jocheon-eup

Mr. Kim Yeong-su, a kiwi grower, is busy organizing his storage space.

When it is time to water his trees, he takes out his smartphone.

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Smartphone app controls sprinklers, fans

He taps a few buttons on the greenhouse control app and the sprinkler system turns on.

He turns on the fans to circulate air within the greenhouse and controls the temperature and humidity, too.

The machines are controlled via smartphone app, as well.

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Real-time monitoring by smartphone

Farmers can open or close curtains and roofs and monitor both inside and outside of their greenhouses with their smartphones in real time.

They are also able to deal with sudden changes in weather conditions with the app, which could contribute to reducing damages.

INTERVIEW
Kim Yeong-su / Kiwi grower
I can do something else while watering plants because the app controls the sprinklers. It saves time and labor.
< 김영수 / 키위 재배 농가 >
스마트폰으로 작동한 이후로는 물 주면서 다른 일을 할 수가 있어요. 그러니까 그만큼 시간을 벌 수 있고, 육체적으로 편하고...

Authorities tested out the smart farming system last year. And this year, the system has been introduced at 20 mandarin and kiwi groves.

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'More work needed on safety, stability of new system’

But the technology is still in its initial phase, so its safety and stability need more work.

Also, the system is currently limited to simply turning things on and off, but various, more advanced functions for different crops would be needed.

INTERVIEW
Choi Seung-guk / Jeju Agricultural Research and Extension Services
Currently, the technology supports an on-off function. We believe we'll be able to provide specific services for different crops in the near future.
< 최승국 / 제주도농업기술원 기술지원조정과 >
온-오프만 기술적으로 하고 있는데 점차적으로 데이터를 구축하고 작물별로 생리나 특성에 따라 관리할 수 있는 매뉴얼까지 개발 가능하다고 생각하고 있고...

[Camera] Hyeon Gwang-hoon
[Reporter] Mike Laidman

New technologies are now moving from our daily lives to the agricultural industry, making life easier, and smarter, for farmers.

Mike Laidman, KCTV