"Rice Planthopper Damage" Affects 26,000ha of Rice... Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to Purchase All

'Minimizing Farm Losses and Preventing Distribution of Low-Quality Rice' Purpose

The government has decided to purchase all rice plants damaged by the rice planthopper. This measure aims to minimize farmers' losses and prevent the distribution of low-quality rice. The rice planthopper is a pest that drills holes into the rice stalks and sucks the sap, hindering the growth of the rice and, in severe cases, causing it to wither and die.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 24th that, due to the high temperatures lasting until September, the area affected by the rice planthopper was recorded as 26,000 hectares as of the 22nd, and it has decided to purchase all the rice damaged according to farmers' requests.

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An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "Rice planthopper damage is concentrated in Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongnam," adding, "Due to recent heavy rains and lower temperatures, the spread is expected to decrease somewhat."

To minimize damage, the Rural Development Administration and local governments are intensively providing technical support for pest control and early harvesting. Considering that the affected area by the rice planthopper is the second largest in the past five years, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will purchase the damaged rice separately from the public stockpiled rice and buy all the quantities requested by farmers to minimize their losses and promptly block the distribution of low-quality rice.

Additionally, the Ministry plans to purchase damaged rice according to farmers' requests once the damage is specifically assessed, as there are concerns about pre-harvest sprouting caused by the recent heavy rains affecting unharvested rice.

Choi Myung-cheol, Director of Food Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Although weather conditions were favorable until August, recent rice planthopper outbreaks and heavy rains raise concerns about damage to rice farmers," adding, "Purchasing damaged rice is expected to minimize farmers' losses, prevent the distribution of low-quality rice, and stabilize rice prices."

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