Abstract
The aim of this study was to enhance the value of the chestnut industry by analyzing the value chain structure. Based on the value chain theory, it is divided into primary activities and support activities. Thus, in total, 27 subjects from Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang were interviewed and self-administered questionnaire. Regarding the value chain structure of the chestnut industry, the primary activities consisted of production followed by cultivation and storing, sorting and packaging, transportation and marketing sales. The support activities were divided into production infrastructure, policy, R&D, and systematization. The primary activities are able to maximize profits through cost reductions. The production was divided into general and environmentally friendly cultivation. Depending on the labor force, it is family-centered labor. However, the installation of harvest nets depends on a hired labor force (40 - 60%) such that it would be necessary to have a mechanized harvest to replace the manpower for the cost reduction. Transportation, marketing sales, and backdoor selling (38.1%) were higher than the existing channels (31.0%) using the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation. The enhancement of value could be created by maximizing profits through the reinforcement of the links between each subject. The production showed strong connections with cultivation/storing, sorting/packing, and backdoor selling and the National Forestry Cooperative Federation. The processing stage is a very simple structure, it would be necessary to have R&D and to support promotions, infrastructure, machines, and sales increases, which should be expanded by connections with other industries like the food industry.
