Jangseong-gun Intensifies Collection of Apple Snails for Weed Control Until the 31st

Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 11th that it will collect the apple snails released for weed control in rice paddies by the 31st.

When apple snails are introduced into rice paddies, they eat the weeds growing on the bottom, effectively controlling weeds. Since no chemical herbicides are used, this method is especially well-received by eco-friendly farms.

Jangseong County is operating a rice snail collection period until the 31st.
[Photo by Jangseong County]

Until last month, the county supplied 40 tons of apple snails to rice paddies covering a total area of 3,416 hectares (ha). The project fully subsidized eco-friendly rice farms and covered 90% of the costs for conventional rice farms, reducing the financial burden on farmers.

While it is beneficial in many ways, as it reduces production costs without harming the environment, apple snails must be collected after the weed control work is completed.

Because they have superior feeding and reproductive abilities compared to native snails, they can negatively impact the ecosystem and cause damage to farms by eating young rice seedlings the following year.

To prevent damage, the county is operating a concentrated collection period for apple snails in irrigation channels and farmland until the 31st.

Farmers using apple snails must also prevent their reproduction by cultivating winter crops and deep plowing the paddies after rice harvest.

A county official said, “Management is as important as the use of apple snails,” and urged, “We hope for active participation in the unified collection period to prevent damage.”

Jangseong = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jo Hangyu baekok@asiae.co.kr

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