Boseong-gun Supplies Disease-Free Premium Seed Potatoes Made with Top Technology

Published 03 Aug.2021 11:58(KST)

[Boseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Cheon-seok] Jeollanam-do Boseong-gun (Governor Kim Cheol-woo) announced on the 3rd that it will supply 2.4 tons of seed potatoes produced at the Technology Center to local farmers until the 6th.

The seed potatoes supplied this time are top-grade (basic seed) fall-cultivation seed potatoes produced through tissue culture and hydroponic cultivation, and are small in size, often called "Konggamja" (bean potatoes) by farmers.

Boseong-gun Agricultural Technology Center has been developing and advancing technology to mass-produce small tuber (2~50g) seeds since 2017.

Compared to government-distributed seeds (50~250g), small tubers require only about one-fourth the amount of seed per unit area, making them efficient and highly productive.

They can be used immediately without cutting, making sowing convenient, and the yield is stable, which makes them highly preferred by farmers.

Additionally, starting this year, the county plans to pilot supply basic seeds of the domestically developed new varieties "Geumseon" and "Eunseon," selected through regional adaptability verification.

The new potato varieties can be cultivated twice a year in spring and fall, and have better disease resistance and productivity than existing varieties (Sumi, Chubaek).

In particular, they are evaluated to have a fluffy texture and good taste, which is highly preferred by consumers, and are expected to increase farmers' income.

A representative of Boseong-gun Agricultural Technology Center (Director Kwon Hyun-joo) stated, "We will do our best to produce and supply disease-free seed potatoes and expand the distribution of new varieties to improve the quality and stable production of Boseong potatoes."

Meanwhile, Boseong-gun, the nation's largest potato production area, produced potatoes on 1,220 hectares as of last year, and 2,200 tons of seed potatoes are used annually.

The shortage in government-distributed seed supply (150 tons / 6.8%) is supplemented by basic seeds provided by the county through farmers' self-propagation methods.