Haenam-gun, Early Harvest of Early-Maturing Rice Variety 'First Crop'

Busy Golden Fields Harvesting New Rice Before the Typhoon

Kim Kwang-su from Naesari, Haenam-eup, who started the first harvest (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] The first new rice harvest of the year has begun in Haenam, the nation's largest rice-producing region.

According to Haenam County on the 2nd, the early-maturing rice harvest has been in full swing since the 1st at the early cultivation area of rice paddies around Gocheonam.

This year, due to an extended rainy season, the average temperature in July was 1.4℃ lower than usual, and sunlight hours were reduced, causing the harvest to be delayed by about 2 to 3 days. The yield and quality are also expected to be somewhat lower.

In particular, with the successive news of typhoons like Maysak approaching, farmers are busily accelerating the harvest in each field to minimize damage to the rice during the harvest period.

Early cultivation of early-maturing rice involves transplanting seedlings in early May and harvesting the rice around late August, which minimizes damage from typhoons and other weather disasters as well as pests and diseases. It also disperses labor and produces rice in a short period, leading to a continuous increase in cultivation area.

The harvested rice will be milled and supplied as new rice for the Chuseok holiday and other uses. Haenam has the largest rice paddy area in the country, with about 18,083 hectares, of which early-maturing rice accounts for approximately 500 hectares.

Mr. Kim Kwang-su (61 years old, pictured) from Naesari, Haenam-eup, who started the first harvest, said, "This year’s rice crop is not a bumper harvest, but I hope that the healthy meals made with delicious Haenam new rice will help the nation overcome COVID-19."

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