Goheung-gun Starts First Rice Planting of the Year... Betting on New Harvest Rice

Published 12 Apr.2024 10:44(KST)

Strengthening the Competitiveness of the New Rice Market and Stabilizing Farmers' Income

Gohung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Young-min) announced that the "early-season rice first transplanting work," signaling the start of a bountiful harvest this year, began on the 11th in the Deungam-ri area of Gohung-eup.

On that day, Governor Gong Young-min visited the first rice transplanting site, personally carried seedling trays, operated the transplanter, assisted with the transplanting, and prayed for a bountiful harvest.

County Governor Gong Young-min is visiting the first rice planting site in the area, Deungam-ri, Goheung-eup, personally driving the rice transplanter and planting rice seedlings.
Photo by Goheung County

The variety transplanted this time, ‘Jinok,’ is one of the early-maturing rice varieties, known for its good taste and strong resistance to pests, diseases, and early spring cold damage.

The county started transplanting about nine days earlier than the national average early-season rice planting date of April 20 and expects to plant early-season rice on approximately 417 hectares, including the Deungam complex, one of the representative early-season rice cultivation areas.

Accordingly, they plan to harvest the rice starting in early August, about four months later. This aims to enhance recognition in the national new rice market and actively contribute to stabilizing farmers' income by strengthening competitiveness in the market.

After the transplanting demonstration, Governor Gong Young-min said, “We will establish a system where farmers focus solely on production, and the administration takes responsibility for sales channels,” adding, “We will actively support farmers to produce high-quality early-season rice.”

A county official stated, “Not only early-season rice but transplanting is expected to continue until mid-June this year,” and added, “We plan to supply and support farming materials necessary for rice cultivation, such as seedling soil, organic fertilizers, soil conditioners, and facilities and equipment to reduce agricultural production costs, in a timely manner.”

Meanwhile, Gohung-gun boasts natural conditions favorable for early cultivation and harvest due to abundant sunlight and a mild temperature influenced by the maritime climate. The new rice produced in the region will be sold through the county-operated online shopping mall ‘Gohung Mall’ to secure rice sales channels and improve farmers' income.