RDA Enhances Rice Production Forecast Accuracy Using Digital Technology

Expansion of 'Digital Crop Monitoring System'
to 100 Sites by 2027
Commercialization of Orchard-Specialized 'Autonomous Driving Robots' Also

The Rural Development Administration (RDA) has decided to significantly expand the 'Digital Rice Crop Monitoring System' to 100 sites by 2027 to improve the accuracy of rice production forecasts. Additionally, to address labor shortages in rural areas, the RDA plans to mechanize the entire process of field crop farming, which currently lacks sufficient mechanization, and to expand the development of autonomous agricultural robots specialized for orchards.

The RDA announced these plans in its '2024 Major Work Promotion Plan' on the 19th.

Jo Jae-ho, Administrator of the RDA, stated, "We have set a work promotion direction focused on ensuring the smooth implementation of national and agricultural policy tasks and realizing vibrant agriculture and rural areas through the convergence, innovation, and collaboration of science and technology. We will focus on four key tasks: resolving difficulties in the agricultural industry field, strengthening public research and development (R&D) in agriculture, expanding future new growth engines, revitalizing rural areas, and international technology cooperation. We will also continuously promote R&D by activating convergence collaboration and creating a challenging research environment."

Enhancing Accuracy of Major Crop Production Forecasts to Support Supply and Demand Stability

(Photo)

First, the RDA plans to support supply and demand stability by predicting rice production through digital image-based crop condition analysis and by developing and disseminating storage and distribution technologies. To improve prediction accuracy by automatically measuring growth and yield, the RDA will invest a total of 7.5 billion KRW in the video and sensing-based Digital Rice Crop Monitoring System, expanding it from 6 sites in 2023 to 100 sites by 2027. Furthermore, it will promote pilot dissemination of new technologies to reduce operating costs of facility greenhouses (26 sites) and establish a mass production and supply system for domestic forage to reduce feed cost burdens.

Mechanization and automation of farm work will also be pursued. To solve the rural labor shortage problem, the RDA plans to mechanize the entire process of field farming, which currently lacks mechanization, and expand the development of autonomous agricultural robots. Field demonstrations to improve the performance of garlic harvesters (3 sites) and onion transplanters (3 sites) will be expanded, and localization of transplanters for chili peppers and cabbage will be promoted. In particular, commercialization of autonomous robots specialized for orchards will be supported, research on robotic arm control technology will be conducted, and the distribution of domestically produced robotic milking machines to farms will be expanded.

Minimizing Damage by Diagnosing Pests and Diseases via Smartphone

A visitor attending the 2023 Agricultural Science and Technology Excellence Sharing Conference is examining the AI-integrated pest and disease diagnosis app.

To minimize damage caused by pests and diseases due to climate change and other factors, the RDA will improve the surveillance and control system from a reactive to a preventive approach and strengthen related research and services. The central pest surveillance targets will be expanded from rice alone to 11 species this year, including pear, peach, and chili pepper. In addition, high-risk pest response research will be actively pursued, and the 'AI Pest and Disease Image Diagnosis App,' which allows diagnosis via smartphone photos, will be disseminated.

Alongside this, the RDA will focus on ▲breeding and cultivation technology development for powdery rice varieties with improved cultivation stability ▲support for the disposal of agricultural by-products to reduce rural fine dust generation ▲spread of smart agriculture ▲development of bio-convergence innovative technologies ▲construction of rural living space data ▲global expansion and export support of K-agriculture technologies.

Administrator Jo emphasized, "There can be no distinction between public and private sectors in solving the difficult problems facing our agriculture and rural areas. All RDA staff will focus on innovation in agricultural science and technology this year and will do their best to achieve tangible results that the public can feel, such as resolving difficulties in the agricultural industry field and expanding future new growth engines, through active collaboration with related ministries, industries, universities, and smooth communication with the public."

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