Gokseong-gun Launches Development of Local Rice Varieties

Published 13 Jun.2023 15:25(KST)

Operation of Test Fields for Independent Rice Variety Development

Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Lee Sang-cheol) announced that it is operating test fields to develop rice varieties suitable for the region and to exhibit various rice varieties for comparison.

Currently, at the test field in Myocheon-ri, Gokseong-eup, not only are multiple rice varieties being cultivated, but lineage rice under development and F1 seeds crossed last year are also being test-cultivated.

[Photo provided by Gokseong-gun]

The operation of this test field aims to develop high-quality rice varieties, focusing on selecting suitable lineages for this purpose.

In addition, by exhibiting domestic varieties for comparison, farmers can directly observe the growth process such as rice plant height, yield, and resistance to pests and diseases, helping them make the optimal choice among various varieties.

This is provided as a direct educational opportunity for farmers, with the goal of discovering and distributing the best rice varieties.

A representative from the Gokseong-gun Agricultural Technology Center stated, “Generally, it takes 12 to 13 years to develop a new rice variety. We are proceeding with variety development through expert consultation, and after inspecting growth conditions and brown rice quality, the finally selected rice lineages will be confirmed through regional adaptation tests.”

Meanwhile, the Gokseong-gun Agricultural Technology Center started research on variety development in 2019 aiming to produce high-quality rice, to replace foreign varieties cultivated in the region and to cultivate aromatic rice preferred by consumers.

Currently, rice cultivation in Gokseong-gun mostly consists of Saechungmu and Sindongjin rice, which are designated as public reserve rice purchase varieties. Additionally, some are cultivating Golden Queen No.3 rice, Kangdaechan rice, glutinous rice, and rice flour, which are part of the Baeksemi brand.