(Naju=Yonhap News) Reporter Jang A-reum = The Korea Rural Community Corporation announced on the 9th that the government budget for next year, amounting to 4 trillion 7,682 billion won, has been confirmed by the National Assembly. This represents an increase of 1 trillion 454 billion won (28%) compared to this year. With this budget allocation, it is expected that efforts will be strengthened to prevent disasters such as typhoons, floods, and droughts through agricultural social overhead capital (SOC) projects, as well as support projects for nurturing young farmers. The Rural Community Corporation plans to invest 2 trillion 1,800 billion won in agricultural SOC, an increase of 2,505 billion won from this year. 6,436 billion won will be invested in drainage improvement projects, 7,569 billion won in the renovation of irrigation facilities, and 765 billion won in the renovation of levees to prevent agricultural damage and damage to various facilities from floods. 2,134 billion won will be allocated for rural water development projects to install irrigation facilities in water-scarce areas, aiming to supply clean agricultural water and prevent drought. 1 trillion 8,770 billion won will be invested in customized farmland support projects, an increase of 6,943 billion won from this year, to support the nurturing of young farmers. The corporation will help young farmers who lack capital by leasing farmland to them or through lease-purchase-resale and sales methods. 297 billion won has been allocated for farmland transfer and retirement direct payment to support the retirement of retired farmers and promote the transfer of farmland to young farmers. 1,824 billion won will be supported for the purchase of farmland for the revival of financially troubled farms, and 2,766 billion won for farmland pensions to ensure the stable retirement life of elderly farmers. 705 billion won will be newly allocated for the construction of the national agricultural artificial intelligence (AI) conversion (AX) platform to embark on a major transformation in the agricultural field with smart farms and smart agricultural operation centers. areum@yna.co.kr