Jeonnam Province Requests Ministry of Agriculture to Recognize Bacterial Leaf Spot Disease in Rice as an Agricultural Disaster

Yoo Deokgyu, Director of the Food and Horticulture Division of Jeonnam Province, and other Jeonnam Province officials are explaining to Kang Hyungseok, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the necessity of recognizing damage caused by bacterial leaf spot disease based on weather analysis over the past month, field opinions, and related research data. Provided by Jeonnam Province

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Jeonnam Province announced that it had formally requested Kang Hyungseok, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, to recognize the recent rapid spread of bacterial leaf spot disease as an agricultural disaster.

Bacterial leaf spot disease occurs in hot and humid environments and under nutrient deficiencies, causing dark brown, sesame seed-like spots to appear on the leaves and stems of rice plants. This leads to poor grain filling and a decrease in yield.

According to Jeonnam Province’s own investigation, as of the end of September, the affected area reached a provisional estimate of 10,000 hectares, which is 2.8 times larger than the same period last year and 2.3 times higher than the average year.

Accordingly, Jeonnam Province explained to Vice Minister Kang Hyungseok the necessity of recognizing the damage as a disaster, based on weather analysis over the past month, field opinions, and related research data. The province also proposed that the government: ▲ recognize agricultural disaster status before the rice harvest, and ▲ purchase all rice affected by bacterial leaf spot disease.

Shin Jeongok, President of the Jeonnam Chapter of the Korea Rice Professional Farmers Association, who attended the meeting, stated, "Despite timely control measures this year, the damage has spread due to abnormal high temperatures. If bacterial leaf spot disease was like a cold in previous years, this year it has escalated to a COVID-19 level of damage, making urgent government measures essential."

In response, Vice Minister Kang Hyungseok requested, "Please submit records of control measures and trends in damage spread over time so that we can review whether to recognize this as an agricultural disaster."

Yoo Deokgyu, Director of the Food and Horticulture Division of Jeonnam Province, said, "We will prepare additional supporting materials and persuasive arguments to convince the government to recognize this as an agricultural disaster. As reports for crop disaster insurance due to bacterial leaf spot disease have more than doubled compared to last year, I urge farmers to report promptly to ensure a timely harvest."

Meanwhile, at the end of September, Jeonnam Province became the first in the country to request the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to swiftly recognize the rapidly spreading bacterial leaf spot disease as an agricultural disaster. On October 1, the government also announced that it would begin a detailed investigation to determine whether to recognize bacterial leaf spot disease as an agricultural disaster.

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