Goheung-gun Implements Free Drone-Based Crop Pest Control for Farms Facing Labor Shortages

Implemented for 94 Farms, 100ha Area, Targeting Labor-Shortage Farms Including Elderly Farmers

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 14th that it has been providing a free crop spraying service using drones since early August to address labor shortages caused by rural aging and population decline, targeting farms within the region experiencing labor shortages, including elderly workers.

The free spraying service conducted this time covered a total area of 100 hectares for 94 farms across 16 towns and townships, based on applications received during the peak farming season.

Teams were divided by region to simultaneously carry out pesticide and fertilizer spraying on the dates requested by the farms.

Drones can be used for various tasks such as direct rice seed sowing, fertilizer and herbicide spraying, and pest and disease control. They reduce the need for spraying personnel by over 80%, easing the financial burden of farming and effectively preventing pesticide-related accidents, which has been well received by farmers.

A county official stated, “This year, the unusually long rainy season raises concerns about the occurrence and spread of various crop pests and diseases. We will strive to improve productivity by resolving labor shortages caused by rural aging and reducing agricultural management costs through timely pest control using drones.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.