Hapcheon-gun Promotes Joint UAV Spraying Support Project for Rice Pest and Disease Control

Resolving Difficulties in Timely Pest and Disease Control of Rice Due to Labor Shortage

Unmanned Helicopter Joint Control of Rice Diseases and Pests [Image Source=Hapcheon-gun]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is implementing a joint unmanned helicopter pest control support project for rice pests to address difficulties in timely pest control work caused by labor shortages due to the aging rural workforce.

This project is promoted by forming joint rice pest control work groups between local agricultural cooperatives that own or can lease unmanned helicopters and farmer groups wishing to conduct pest control. This year, five pest control groups are participating: Hapcheon Control Group, Yulgok Control Group, Dongbu Control Group, Sae Nambu Control Group, and Hapcheonho Control Group.

Each control group is limited to a maximum of two treatments per farmland, with a total treatment area of 5,640 hectares this year. The project budget is 5 million KRW (14% provincial funds, 86% county funds).

The first aerial pest control was conducted from the 9th to 10th by the Hapcheonho Control Group in Daebyeong and Yongju-myeon areas, and from the 11th to 15th by the Sae Nambu Control Group in Gahoe, Samga, and Ssangbaek-myeon areas.

From the 15th to 16th, the Yulgok Control Group treated the Yulgok-myeon area, and on the 17th to 18th, the Hapcheon Control Group treated Hapcheon-eup, Daeyang, and Myosan-myeon areas. Starting from the 19th, the Dongbu Control Group is scheduled to treat Chogye, Jeokjung, Cheongdeok, Ssangchaek, and Deokgok-myeon areas.

The second aerial pest control is planned for early to mid-August by each control group, with the schedule subject to change depending on weather conditions.

A representative from the Hapcheon Agricultural Technology Center stated, “We hope that the joint unmanned helicopter pest control support for rice pests will enhance pest control effectiveness and eliminate the shortage of pest control personnel.”

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