Gyeongnam Province Holds Forum on Developing New Income Crops to Address Climate Change

Discussion on Measures to Respond to Natural Disasters Such as Apple Fruit Drop Damage

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Gyeongsangnam-do held a forum on the 18th at the Western Government Complex to establish measures for fostering new income crops in response to climate change.

The forum aimed to address natural disasters affecting crops due to climate change and to explore ways to cultivate new income crops.

The Agricultural Policy Bureau proposed the need for systematic cultivation of new income crops and measures to overcome natural disasters caused by climate change.

The Agricultural Technology Institute announced plans to develop micro-sprinkler methods to reduce cold damage in apple orchards and to prepare measures to respond to natural disasters and climate change as part of its research and development projects.

Hwang Yeonhyun, Head of the Horticultural Research Division, stated that with the recent increase in South Korea's average temperature rising at a rate of 1.8℃, cultivating new subtropical fruits and warm-region adapted fruit crops is becoming advantageous.

The Agricultural Technology Institute revealed that it is currently researching the breeding of red varieties and cultivation techniques for subtropical fruits such as apple mango and passion fruit.

During the discussion, Jeong Jaemin, Director of the Agricultural Technology Institute, said, "The apple crop, which has suffered significant damage from natural disasters over the past three years, experienced fruit drop damage again this year," and suggested, "Along with the distribution of windbreak fans, it is necessary to sufficiently supply nutrients containing boron and calcium to flower buds to strengthen cold resistance."

The head of the Technology Extension Division at the Agricultural Technology Institute emphasized the need to expand the introduction of small fruit species such as cherries and blueberries, in addition to the province's main crops like apples and pears.