Prevent Fatal Infections in Apples and Pears... Andong City Strengthens On-Site Surveillance for Early Detection of Fire Blight in Orchards

Employees of Andong Agricultural Technology Center are conducting surveillance activities for fire blight disease.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] Andong City Agricultural Technology Center will conduct surveillance activities for fire blight targeting fruit trees such as apples and pears until July.

Fire blight is a bacterial disease classified as a nationally quarantined export-import restricted disease under the Plant Protection Act.

Once infected, there is no clear treatment, and the only control measure is immediate burial upon occurrence. The Andong City Agricultural Technology Center has provided preventive agents free of charge to apple and pear farmers to prevent fire blight and is intensively conducting surveillance activities to block the introduction and occurrence of the disease.

From May, when full-scale farming activities such as thinning and removal of diseased branches begin, surveillance teams will be organized in each eup, myeon, and dong area to enable early detection and removal of lesions for proactive response. They will conduct detailed surveillance of apple and pear orchards and provide technical guidance to farms requiring cultivation technology support.

Due to the large number and area of apple and pear orchards in the Andong region, surveillance activities will be conducted without individual notification to farmers. Fruit tree farmers must also conduct their own surveillance to prevent the introduction and spread of fire blight.

The Agricultural Technology Center stated, “Farmers should thoroughly disinfect during farming activities and report immediately if suspicious symptoms are found.”

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