Succulent Plants

[Anchor Lead]

More farmers are embracing a distinct type of plants known as succulents, as a major income source as they're easy to grow and also help purify the surrounding air.

[Pkg]

This farmer who raises succulent plants, sometimes called water storage plants, is busy tending a flowerpot. Succulents propagate very well and are easy to grow without much labor required. Another strength is their profitability compared to the small size of land needed to grow them.

[Soundbite] Lee Gil-jae(Succulents Farmer) : "100-150 plants fit in a 3.3㎡ plot. Let's say a single plant costs around 60 cents. It's already USD 61 for 100."

In case of Mr. Lee, sales doubled last year compared to two years ago. This is thanks to growing demand for succulent plants especially led by double income families as the plants are easy to keep around and wonderful to use to decorate the house. Farms raising succulents are also turning to foreign markets.

[Soundbite] Lee Seung-guk(Chairman, Cactus Research Society) : "I believe domestically raised exports, not requiring royalty payments, will give a booster to Korea's floriculture sector."

Korea exported 2.4 million dollars worth of succulent plants last year, which is up more than 20 fold in just 3 years.

[Soundbite] Hwang Soo-gyeong(Goyang Agricultural Technology Extension Center) : "Through technological guidance catering to various consumer needs, we will seek to help increase farming income."

Succulents are increasingly emerging as a new income source for the sluggish domestic floricultural industry.