Imsil-gun Advances Research on Pepper Rain Shelter and Nutrient Solution Cultivation

On the 8th, Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk announced that it will promote the "Field Demonstration Research on Rain Shelter (Facility) Nutrient Solution Cultivation of Chili Peppers" to enhance the nationwide brand reputation of "Imsil Chili Peppers."

The county installed nutrient solution devices and bed facilities in four greenhouses (660㎡) at the regional demonstration test field.

It also plans to establish a new chili pepper cultivation method through nutrient solution cultivation, moving away from traditional open-field (soil-based) chili pepper farming, aiming to improve marketability and working conditions.

Imsil County is promoting the 'Pepper Rain Shelter (Facility) Nutrient Solution Cultivation Field Demonstration Research.'
[Photo by Imsil County]

The field demonstration research on rain shelter nutrient solution cultivation of chili peppers is divided into three areas: analyzing the effects of planting time and cultivation methods on chili growth and yield, establishing early planting cultivation technology using heating facilities, and producing and selling chili by-products (leaves) using the new chili variety (Wongi No. 2).

Compared to other crops, chili peppers require multiple harvests, are difficult to mechanize, and have a high labor input ratio, causing production costs to continuously rise due to increasing labor costs.

Additionally, nationwide cultivation areas are decreasing due to issues such as salt accumulation, continuous cropping obstacles, anthracnose disease, and reduced marketability. Compared to other facility vegetables like strawberries and tomatoes, the transition from open-field to facility cultivation remains low.

Rain shelter nutrient solution cultivation of chili peppers is expected to bring a new turning point to the Imsil chili industry by solving various problems of open-field cultivation and inducing the influx of successor farmers, including young and middle-aged farmers.

This research involves the Rural Development Administration's National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science (Vegetable Division), Jeollabuk-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, and research officials and faculty from Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, who will provide advice on nutrient solution preparation, growth data collection, and research outcomes.

County Governor Shim Min said, "Along with smart chili strong farmer education, we will strive to shift the chili cultivation base from open-field (soil-based) to facility cultivation through rain shelter (facility) nutrient solution cultivation research, enabling easier farming and producing high-quality chili peppers to increase income for local chili farmers and enhance the Imsil chili brand."

Imsil = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik baekok@asiae.co.kr

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