Uljin-gun Launches Joint Rice Pest Control Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, has started joint pest control using unmanned aerial vehicles, beginning in Uljin-eup.

Uljin County is conducting a joint pest control project for rice pests using unmanned aerial vehicles to produce high-quality rice.

This pest control effort, running from the 11th of last month to August 10th, aims to respond to the constant occurrence of pests caused by climate change and to reduce production costs through efficient pest control operations.

Joint pest control applications were accepted in advance through eup and myeon for areas where both unmanned helicopters and drones can be used, and local agricultural cooperatives and the 119 pest control team collaborate on pest control by site.

The main targets for pest control are blast disease and brown spot disease, which frequently occur during the rice heading period and degrade rice quality, as well as planthoppers, rice leaf folders, and other invasive pests that may suddenly appear in large numbers.

This year, the county secured a budget of 450 million won to support pest control over an area of 3,280 hectares in two phases, aiming to contribute to the production of high-quality rice and to alleviate labor shortages for farmers.

Hwang Jeung-ho, director of the Agricultural Technology Center, said, “We will establish safety measures to prevent damage to beekeeping and livestock farms by providing prior notice before pesticide spraying,” and added, “We will make every effort to prevent pest damage.”