Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Conducts On-Site Inspection of Lettuce and Perilla Leaf Crop Conditions and Supply Situation

Kim In-jung, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is visiting a perilla leaf cultivation facility in Geumsan-gun, Chungnam, on the 11th and talking with officials. (Photo by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Son Seonhee] Ahead of the peak summer season, as agricultural product prices are on the rise, the government has inspected the crop conditions and supply-demand situation of lettuce and perilla leaves.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Vice Minister Kim Injoong visited lettuce and perilla leaf cultivation fields and distribution facilities located in Geumsan-gun, Chungnam Province on the 11th to check the summer crop conditions and encourage farmers and related personnel.

Lettuce is a low-temperature crop with an optimal growth temperature of 15~20℃. Generally, production decreases and prices rise as temperatures increase during summer. Especially this year, due to the sustained high temperatures since June, crop conditions have been poor, resulting in higher prices than usual.

After inspecting the growth status of lettuce, Vice Minister Kim asked for more diligent management, noting that although weather conditions make cultivation difficult, the supply has recently decreased sharply.

In the case of perilla leaves, the optimal growth temperature is 20~30℃, higher than that of lettuce, but recent continuous rain and cloud cover have reduced sunlight, delaying growth.

Vice Minister Kim visited the Maninsan Nonghyup Agricultural Product Distribution Center (APC), which handles more than 40% of the nation's perilla leaf production, to check the facility's operation status.

Vice Minister Kim said, "We will strengthen government support for production and distribution, including expanding agricultural product distribution centers where a well-established system from production to processing is in place."