Damyang-gun Accelerates Development of New Rice Varieties

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Choi Hyung-sik) announced on the 4th that it is accelerating the development of new rice varieties to enhance the brand value of ‘Daesup Malgeun Damyang Rice,’ which won the grand prize in the top 10 high-quality brand rice evaluation in Jeollanam-do.

Since 2016, the county has signed a business agreement with the National Institute of Crop Science to conduct research for developing customized rice varieties suitable for the local environment in order to produce competitively superior rice nationwide.

Based on the results of demonstration tests conducted over the past four years, comprehensively evaluating appearance, components, and quality, the most excellent single line (Damyang No.1) was finally selected, and since last year, regional adaptation tests have been conducted in four areas (Damyang, Naju, Jeonju, Iksan).

This year, an excellent single line (Damyang No.2) will be selected and regional adaptation tests will be carried out. If the results are favorable, applications for variety protection will be sequentially filed with the National Seed Management Office starting next year.

Lee Byung-chang, director of the Agricultural Technology Center of the county, said, “Through the development of customized new rice varieties unique to Damyang, we will not only enhance the differentiated regional premium brand value but also contribute to the revitalization of the sixth industrial sector.”

Meanwhile, besides rice, the county is attempting the ‘globalization of strawberries’ through newly developed strawberry varieties such as Jukhyang and Merry Queen, and is also focusing on developing varieties of blueberries, melons, and others.

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