Haenam-gun to Eliminate Japanese Rice Varieties Completely

Conducted Consumer Taste Evaluation for Selecting Top-Quality Rice, Three Varieties Including Cheongpum Selected

A taste evaluation was conducted at Haenam Hanaro Mart. (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 22nd that among the highest quality rice varieties selected to replace foreign varieties, three varieties?Cheongpum, Yechan, and Saebonghwang?were chosen as delicious rice based on consumer taste evaluations.

The county conducted a consumer taste evaluation for selecting the highest quality rice at Haenam Nonghyup Hanaro Mart over two days from the 17th to the 18th.

The taste evaluation was part of the "Early Spread of New Varieties and Selection of Highest Quality Rice Project," jointly promoted by Haenam-gun, the Rural Development Administration, Jeonnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services, and Okcheon Nonghyup since 2020 for two years. The final consumer choice was made for five rice varieties cultivated this year.

To select excellent domestic varieties to replace Japanese rice varieties, the county conducted pilot cultivation of five varieties?Saebonghwang, Yechan, Cheongpum, Sugwang, and Jeonnam No. 9?over an area of 20 hectares this year.

Based on results including pest and disease occurrence, lodging, yield, and consumer taste evaluation, three varieties were finally selected. Next year, cultivation will proceed excluding Sugwang and Jeonnam No. 9.

Additionally, for the three varieties, investigations on varietal characteristics and growth status, as well as consumer taste evaluations, will be conducted to ultimately select one highest quality rice variety suitable for the Haenam region for expanded distribution.

A county official stated, "We plan to achieve zero Japanese rice varieties, which currently account for about 10%, by 2025. Through this project, we aim to select the optimal variety suited to local conditions and develop it into Haenam’s premium rice with regional specialization and highest quality."

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