Deputy Minister Han Hoon Visits Seosan Apple Orchard to Inspect Spring Growth Conditions
Han Hoon, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (left), is visiting an apple smart orchard located in Seosan, Chungnam on the 16th to check the spring growth conditions.
Han Hoon, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, visited an apple smart orchard located in Seosan, Chungnam on the 16th to check the spring growth status and urged thorough growth management for a stable fruit harvest this year.
At the site, Vice Minister Han heard from farmers that "the flowers in the Seosan area are expected to be in full bloom this week, and the growth condition is good without any cold damage so far," and he urged, "Please thoroughly prevent cold damage in April and proactively manage risk factors such as drought and anthracnose during each growth stage until the harvest season."
He then toured the smart orchard based on a multi-axis flat training system. Apple trees are generally cultivated in a conical shape with the main stem (leader) grown straight upward, but the multi-axis system grows two or more main stems (axes) vertically on a single rootstock. This method grows the tree in a kind of wall shape, which improves space utilization, facilitates mechanization, and makes pesticide application and harvesting relatively easier.
Vice Minister Han said, "In response to climate change and to ensure stable supply, it is necessary to expand smart orchards that have twice (up to four times) the productivity." He added, "The government plans to steadily implement the 'Measures to Enhance Competitiveness of the Fruit Industry' in cooperation with related agencies, including expanding support for disaster prevention facilities and promoting the distribution of new varieties resistant to disasters."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
