Hampyeong-gun Promotes Supply of Eco-Friendly Agricultural 'Rice Field Snail for Weed Control'

Approximately 80 Tons of Apple Snails Supplied to 6,712ha This Year

[Hampyeong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 18th that it will accept applications for the "Golden Apple Snail Supply Project for Rice Paddy Farmers Practicing Eco-friendly Agriculture" until the 31st of next month.

The applicants are rice farmers within the jurisdiction, and applications can be submitted at each eup/myeon office.

This year, the county will supply about 80 tons of golden apple snails for weed control in rice farming over 6,712 hectares.

The support rate is 90% (10% self-pay) for eco-friendly paddies and 80% (20% self-pay) for general paddies.

The golden apple snail farming method is an eco-friendly farming technique that uses the herbivorous characteristics of golden apple snails to remove weeds instead of herbicides.

It is known to remove more than 99% of general weeds such as pigweed and water primrose, as well as superweeds resistant to herbicides.

However, farmers practicing the golden apple snail method must install separate barriers to prevent the snails from leaking into the natural environment and must collect them after use.

Also, farmers who do not cultivate winter crops or perform deep plowing may be restricted from applying for the project starting in 2022.

A county official said, "Farmers practicing the golden apple snail method must obligatorily collect the snails after the project is completed to continuously utilize the method," and added, "Active cooperation from farmers is needed to prevent ecological damage caused by golden apple snails used in eco-friendly agriculture."

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