Busan Gangseo Fields Begin First Rice Harvest for Chuseok New Rice

Harvest of This Year’s First Haedamssal Rice Planted in Jukdong-dong, Gangseo-gu at 10 a.m. on the 26th

Active Pest Control by Farmers... Busan Rice Farming Expected to Yield Above-Average Harvest

The Busan Agricultural Technology Center will harvest the first rice planted in Busan this year at the paddy field of Kim Kyungyang in Jukdong-dong, Gangseo-gu, at 10 a.m. on the 26th.

First harvest of rice for Chuseok new crop. [Image source=Agricultural Technology Center]

This rice, which was first planted in Busan on April 22, initially showed poor growth due to the prolonged rainy season. However, thanks to relatively favorable weather conditions during the later growth period and the farmers' continuous management and efforts, it will be harvested 126 days after planting.

The rice to be harvested this time is Haedamssal, an early-maturing variety selected by the Rural Development Administration as a top-quality variety, accounting for 2.5% (about 50 ha) of the total rice cultivation area in Busan.

Other representative early-maturing rice varieties in Busan include Haedamssal, Unkwang, Joyoung, and Jomyeong No.1.

Haedamssal will begin to be harvested in earnest across the Gangseo fields from the end of August, and after drying and milling, the new rice will be served on Chuseok ritual tables.

The center expects a better-than-average harvest this year, thanks to the farmers' active pest control and management, despite a significant increase in pest and disease detections compared to last year due to the prolonged rainy season and hot, humid weather.

Yoo Mibok, Director of the City Agricultural Technology Center, said, "Despite the economic hardships caused by falling rice prices and rising agricultural material costs, our farmers have steadfastly devoted themselves to their work and are now facing a bountiful harvest," and added, "Although the risks of typhoons and abnormal weather still remain, I ask all our farmers, who are responsible for our food security, to continue their efforts in pest control and water management until the very end of the harvest."