Address
Seodoon-dong 250
Kwonseon-ku
Kyunggi-do

Town/City
Suwon

POST/ZIP code
441-707

Telephone No.
+82-331-292-4370

Fax Number
+82-331-291-6067

Web Address
www.rda.go.kr

Organisational Structure
Agricultural research and technology development in Korea was started when the Agricultural Demonstration Station was established in 1906. This station was reorganized in 1962 as the Rural Development Administration (RDA) to take a significant role in the successful industrialization and modernization of the Korean economy through the effective development and transfer of agricultural technologies, and though efficient implementation of rural development programs in rural communities.

Research Programs
For the past three decades, RDA disseminated high-yielding cultivars and cropping technologies to attain self-sufficiency in rice and some other important food crops. It has also contributed greatly in vegetable production by introducing technologies that enable farmers to produce crops year-round. Furthermore, RDA has also improved rural environment and fostered young farmers to enhance the competitiveness of Korean agricultural products. Continuous and sizable investment in agricultural research by the Korean government highlights the importance of technology development in advancing the agricultural industry.
Successful research has enabled the re-orientation of industry's development thrusts and the exploitation of global markets for Korea's agricultural products. Korean agricultural technologies and development experiences have already reached the level where those things can now be shared with other developing countries. RDA, as the central government agency responsible for agricultural research and technology development, is conducting various national research programs in the areas of crop improvement, soil management, crop protection, and sustainable agriculture, which are not usually pursued by the private sector. Much attention is being given to production systems and technologies that promote and protect agricultural environment and safety of products as well. RDA is striving to promote key technologies including the leading-edge biotechnology, with the aim of maintaining basic food security. RDA maintains very close relationship with Provincial RDAs (now renamed as Provincial Agricultural Research and Education Services), Metropolis Extension Service, City/County Rural Extension Centers, Farmers' Counseling Office, Region Specific Crop Experiment Stations, and Institutions and/or Agricultural Experiment Stations throughout the nation.

Institutes / Stations:
National Horticultural Research Institute (NHRI), Suwon
Taegu Apple Research Institute /NHRI/RDA
Naju Pear Research Institute /NHRI/RDA
Cheju Citrus Research Institute /NHRI/RDA
Pusan Horticultural Experiment Station /NHRI/RDA
National Alpine Agricultural Experiment Station /RDA
National Seed Management Office /RDA

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