An Analysis of the Value and Profitability of Horticulture-Based Agro-healing Programs for Depression Reduction

Background and objective: This study analyzed the economic value of horticulture-based Agro-healing (HBAH) programs and considered how they can achieve profitability, as basic research for their sustainable operation.Methods: The research target program is an HBAH program for depression reduction, targeting groups diagnosed with depression or at high-risk of depression from 19 to 65 years old. A survey was conducted with 95 individuals related to Agro-healing, and based on the survey results, an analysis was performed on the replaceable cost, market size, and profitability by considering the medical expenses of depression patients, the consumer spending items that can be replaced by the effects of therapeutic farming programs, the remuneration for Agro-healing specialists and auxiliary personnel, and the appropriate number of such personnel.Results: An analysis of the cost scale that HBAH programs can replace found that the replaceable cost could be about 2.8 trillion won. By combining the number of mental health institutions and care farms, and the number of eligible participants, it was found that assuming that six sessions run in a year, 256,400 people will participate at approximately 2,850 institutions and farms in 2028. , enabling the programs to run 17,100 sessions in 2028. Profitability should be ensured for the sustainable operation of Agro-healing programs. In this regard, it was confirmed that participation fees should range from a minimum of 31,211 won to a maximum of 45,346 won per session.Conclusion: This study is meaningful in that it performed a basic analysis of the economic value of individual Agro-healing programs and a profitability analysis for the sustainable operation of Agro-healing programs.