Reducing Pest and Weather Disaster Damage... Rural Development Administration Activates Preemptive Response System

The Rural Development Administration (RDA) announced on the 22nd that it is operating a proactive response system to prevent the decrease in crop production and quality caused by pests, diseases, and weather disasters, thereby expanding a stable production foundation.

First, to prevent fire blight in fruit trees, the RDA conducted ulcer removal work during the winter season (December to March) at apple and pear orchards nationwide. They strengthened proactive measures by diagnosing bacteria hidden in plants using their self-developed 'Real-Time Gene Diagnosis Technology (RT-PCR)' to eliminate infection sources in advance.

Additionally, the RDA distributed fire blight preventive agents to apple and pear growers nationwide and launched the 'Fire Blight Prediction Information System' to help farmers decide the timing of pest control. From April to September, when fire blight outbreaks are concentrated, preventive monitoring was intensified, focusing on major apple and pear production areas.

An RDA official explained, "Since switching to this proactive prevention system, fire blight has shown a decreasing trend since 2022. In 2023, although frequent rain and high temperatures from June to August, the fruit growing season, created favorable conditions for fire blight bacteria activity, the incidence level was maintained compared to the previous year."

The RDA expanded the proactive response system to general pests and diseases. Starting this year, the system has been applied to common problematic pests and diseases such as anthracnose and viral diseases.

In March of this year, the RDA organized the 'Central Pest and Disease Proactive Prevention Inspection Team,' consisting of pest and disease experts from the RDA, specialized local government crop research institutes, and related university personnel. The central inspection team investigates weather data and crop growth in major production areas of food crops, fruit trees, and open-field vegetables to identify regions at risk of pest and disease outbreaks and supports pest control technologies.

Furthermore, to enable early detection and rapid control of key pests and diseases mainly occurring in apples, pears, peaches, napa cabbage, chili peppers, citrus, and persimmons, the RDA collaborates with research institutes of nine regional universities to conduct field inspections (monitoring) and surveillance. The results of field inspections and surveillance are promptly provided to the field to promote timely pest control.

Alongside this, the RDA is enhancing field satisfaction by predicting weather and crop disaster risks at the farm level. The core of the 'Agricultural Weather Disaster Early Warning Service,' provided since 2016, is to predict detailed weather and crop disasters at the farm level.

Weather and crop disaster prediction information at the farm level (30m grid) and management guidelines to minimize damage are sent via text messages, AlimTalk, or web to farmers who have agreed to receive the service. Currently, weather disaster forecasts by growth stage are available for 40 crop types, and farm-level information is provided to farmers in 75 cities and counties nationwide. The service coverage will expand to 155 cities and counties by 2025 and to 50 crop types by 2027.

Chae Ui-seok, head of the Disaster Response Division at the RDA, said, "We are striving to rapidly disseminate and apply research and development technologies related to pest, disease, and weather responses that directly affect agricultural production volume and quality in the field. We will continue to work harder to establish a stable production foundation through active proactive responses and swift actions."

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