Provincial Assembly Member Jo Gwang-yeong Demands Winter Management Measures for Apple Snails

Published 16 Jul.2020 15:22(KST)

Increase in Damage Caused by Wintering Wangureongi Juveniles Grazing Young Rice Seedlings

Jeonnam Provincial Council Member Jo Gwang-yeong

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Jo Gwang-young, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Council (Democratic Party, Haenam 2), announced on the 16th that during the 2020 work report of the Jeonnam Provincial Agricultural and Livestock Food Bureau on the 15th, he demanded measures to address the recent damage caused by apple snails surviving through winter due to climate warming and eating the young rice seedlings after transplanting.

The apple snail farming method began in 1992 as a means to remove weeds in rice paddies for eco-friendly agriculture and was used in about 88.9% of eco-friendly rice cultivation areas as of last year.

Its use is increasing in both eco-friendly and conventional farms due to the convenience of weed control, but a detailed investigation by the National Institute of Ecology designated it as a Grade 1 ecological hazard, indicating the need for systematic management to maintain and develop eco-friendly agriculture.

Assemblyman Jo Gwang-young emphasized, “Due to the warm winter weather with an average temperature increase of about 2.6℃ this year, damage to young rice seedlings caused by overwintering apple snails occurred, with Haenam County accounting for most of the damage at 540 hectares out of 660 hectares across five cities and counties in Jeollanam-do. We expect the damage to increase further due to global warming.”

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Jo Gwang-young is also recognized for various legislative activities, including the representative proposal of the “Partial Amendment to the Jeollanam-do Office of Education Ordinance on School Violence Prevention and Countermeasures” to prepare measures for preventing school violence.