The purpose of this study was to select Korea’s priority partner countries in agricultural sector, to find priority areas for development cooperation for those countries, and to plan future Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea.

This study was performed by reviewing the previous literature and related materials, utilizing manuscripts written by professionals, and conducting surveys and interviews with officials in charge of agricultural and rural development policy in partner countries.

The countries which meet the following criteria were selected as Korea’s priority partner countries; the countries in which agricultural sector was chosen as the key area of cooperation among Korea’s ODA priority partner countries in 2015: Korea’s priority countries for overseas agricultural development: countries that had signed bilateral memorandum of understanding with Korea in agricultural sector: and the countries in which the performances of the Korean Agricultural Policy Experiences for Food Security (KAPEX) program proved excellent. As a result, seven Asian countries were selected, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

To suggest priority areas for cooperation with those seven Asian countries, this study reviewed social and economic situations and current status of the agricultural sector, national and agricultural development strategies, country partnership strategies of international organizations, and previous development cooperation projects supported by Korean government (MAFRA and its subsidiary organizations, and the KOICA). The review resulted in two to four priority areas of cooperation in agricultural and rural development sector for each country.
By reviewing preliminary project concept papers submitted by each country, this study tried to identify future specific development cooperation projects. This approach, therefore, would make it possible the future projects be based upon the demand of partner/recipient countries. The study digged out the following four projects: Groundwater Monitoring Pilot Project for Climate Change in Myanmar; Enhancing Farm Mechanization and Transferring Agricultural Technology in Lao PDR; Enhancing Agricultural Mechanization through the Establishment of Farm Service Centers in the Philippines; and Enhancing Export Capacity through the Improvement of the Livestock Quarantine System in Mongolia.

Researchers: Heo Jang, Lee Daeseob, Kim Jongsun, Kim Yunjung, Choi Minjung, Cho Sunmee, Ahn Kyumi
Research period: 2017. 8.∼ 2017. 12.
E-mail address: heojang@krei.re.kr