Minister Jeong Hwang-geun: "Cabbage Supply Will Be Sufficient Compared to Demand... Thorough Crop Management Is Important"

On-site Inspection of Summer Cabbage and Radish Production in Gangwon

Jeong Hwang-geun, Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, visited a summer cabbage field located in Wangsang-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do on the 3rd. This visit was the second summer cabbage production area visit following the visit to Pyeongchang last month, arranged to check the cabbage crop condition, which is feared to be delayed in growth due to the heatwave after the rainy season, and to listen to the opinions of the production area.

Summer cabbage is mainly cultivated in open fields at high altitudes above 400m in Gangwon-do. It is generally supplied to the market from mid-June to mid-October. In particular, since it is also cultivated in July and August when heatwaves, typhoons, and rainy seasons frequently occur, its growth is greatly affected by weather, making it a vegetable with high price volatility.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, currently, summer cabbage shipments in early August have decreased due to the confirmation of diseases such as soft rot caused by high temperatures after the rainy season, but the quantity after mid-August is in good condition. Considering the spring cabbage storage of kimchi companies and government reserves, the ministry forecasts that the price increase will not be significant. The cultivation area for September shipments has also increased by 5.6% compared to the average year, and if the current crop condition is maintained, the total supply, considering the spring cabbage storage, is sufficient compared to demand.

However, if the diseases such as soft rot currently being confirmed spread, there is concern that the crop condition may deteriorate, so crop management is very important.

Minister Jeong said, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is supporting technical guidance and discounted supply of pesticides in cooperation with the Rural Development Administration and NongHyup," and added, "If diseases such as soft rot are not properly managed in high-temperature conditions after rainfall, there is a risk of crop deterioration, so please pay close attention to active disease control for stable cabbage shipments."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is proactively stockpiling 12,500 tons as of the 2nd in preparation for poor summer cabbage crop conditions. It is also promoting active supply and demand stabilization measures such as expanding the government contract purchase area (originally 120→150 hectares) and additional purchases.

On the 3rd, Jeong Hwang-geun, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (center), visited a summer cabbage field located in Wangsang-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do.

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