Sunchang-gun Signs MOU with Local Agricultural Cooperatives for Joint Rice Pest and Disease Control

Published 07 Apr.2023 17:14(KST)

Suncheon-gun, Jeonbuk Province, has signed a business agreement with Nonghyup to promote the prevention and control of rice pests and diseases, marking the official start of the project.

On the 6th, at the Agricultural Technology Center, five institutions including the Suncheon-gun Agricultural Technology Center (Director Jin Young-moo) and four regional Nonghyup branches (Suncheon, Donggye, Seosunchang, Gurim) participated in signing an MOU for timely control of rice pests and diseases, the county announced on the 7th.

Sunchang-gun Signs MOU for Joint Rice Pest and Disease Control with Local Agricultural Cooperatives. <br>[Photo by Sunchang-gun]

Sunchang-gun Signs MOU for Joint Rice Pest and Disease Control with Local Agricultural Cooperatives.
[Photo by Sunchang-gun]

The main contents of the agreement include joint pest control promotion, consultation to determine the optimal timing for pest control to maximize the effect of joint control, evaluation and supplementation after project implementation, and promotion of other possible cooperation between the two organizations.

This year, the county plans to invest 1.7 billion KRW in the project and conduct aerial pest control over 4,600 hectares of rice cultivation area in the jurisdiction, excluding eco-friendly paddies. The pest control will be carried out twice, before and after heading.

This project is expected to greatly contribute to resolving the labor shortage in the aging rural areas. Together with the rice safe production support project (seedling box treatment) that has been promoted since 2009, farmers will be able to cultivate their crops with only two pest control treatments, contributing to the county’s administrative goal of profitable agriculture by reducing farm management costs.

County Governor Choi Young-il said, “Pest control will be conducted from mid-July to August on the fields where applications have been received. This will significantly reduce the burden and hardship on farmers caused by pesticide spraying during heat waves and swiftly block the spread of pests and diseases.” He added, “As this project is essential for the aging and labor-short rural areas, we will strive to ensure its continuous promotion.”