Suncheon-si, Preventing Rice Pest and Disease Damage in Advance through Joint Control Measures

Solving Labor Shortage Issues for Elderly and Small-Scale Farmers through Aerial Pest Control

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Heo Seok) announced on the 3rd that it will conduct joint pest control over 1,056 hectares from the 1st to the 20th of this month to prevent rice pest and disease damage in advance for elderly farmers and small-scale farmers facing labor shortages.

The joint rice pest control targets farmers residing in Suncheon who cultivate rice in general complexes. Applications are accepted for the project, and aerial pest control is conducted twice annually during the rice cultivation period using unmanned helicopters and drones, with partial support for pest control costs.

The first pest control was completed for 881 farms covering 842 hectares to prevent pest and disease damage caused by the July monsoon. The second joint pest control in the second half of the year proactively prevents damage from rice blast and rice planthoppers, which are likely to occur due to the autumn monsoon and typhoons before harvest.

The city notifies villages in advance about the pest control schedule to prevent damage to eco-friendly farmland, fish farms, and beekeeping farms expected to be affected by the joint pest control. It also conducts village broadcasts before the operation to promote preparedness.

The city plans to expand the joint rice pest control project, which was implemented for the first time this year, more extensively from next year.

A city official stated, “We will improve the issues revealed during this year’s implementation to increase farmer satisfaction and reduce blind spots in pest control through joint efforts,” adding, “We will continuously strive to enhance farmers’ income by producing high-quality rice, solving labor shortages in rural areas due to aging, and reducing farm management costs.”

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