Jeonnam Seed Management Office Holds Ceremony to Pray for Bountiful Harvest and First Rice Planting

21,000 Tons of High-Quality Seeds Including Rice, Barley, Wheat, and Soybeans
To Be Produced and Supplied to Farms This Year

The ceremony praying for a bountiful harvest and the first rice planting event were held on the 26th in the fields of Bannam-myeon, Naju. Photo by Jeonnam Province

The Jeollanam-do Seed Management Office held a ceremony on May 26 in the fields of Bannam-myeon, Naju, to pray for a bountiful harvest and safety, as well as the first rice planting event of the year.

The ceremony to pray for a bountiful harvest was conducted according to traditional rituals, and the prayer wishing for abundance and safety was read by Lee Sunmun, who has extensive experience officiating such ceremonies.

The Chohonrye (first cup offering) was performed by Park Hyunsik, Director-General of the Jeonnam Agricultural, Livestock and Food Bureau. The Aheonrye (second cup offering) was conducted by Lee Kyungil, Director of the Jeonnam Branch of the National Seed Management Office, as well as section chiefs from the Jeonnam Agricultural, Livestock and Food Bureau, Hyung Namyeol, Head of the Agricultural Promotion Division at Naju Agricultural Technology Center, and about 20 others. The Jongheonrye (final cup offering) was performed by Kim Hyunjin, an official at the Seed Management Office.

Afterwards, seedling trays of Saecheongmu rice, which had been carefully cultivated for over a month by the Seed Management Office, were moved to nearby fields. The seedlings were loaded onto a rice transplanter, marking the start of this year’s rice planting.

The Jeonnam Seed Management Office is an institution that produces nationally certified seeds of crops such as rice, barley, wheat, and soybeans, which are directly linked to national food security. The office carries out entrusted national duties with government funding.

This year, the office plans to produce a total of 21,000 tons of seeds across 17 varieties?including 8 rice varieties (Saecheongmu, Baegokchal, Jomyeong No.1, Yeonghojinmi, and others), 4 barley varieties (Ssalbori, Hwinchalssalbori, and others), 2 wheat varieties (Saekeumgang, Baekgang), and 3 soybean varieties (Daechan, Seonpung, Pungsannamul)?on 75.5 hectares (230,000 pyeong) of land. These seeds will be supplied to farms in Jeonnam through the Jeonnam Branch of the National Seed Management Office and city and county agricultural technology centers.

Kim Jaecheon, Director of the Jeonnam Seed Management Office, stated, "Since the Seed Management Office produces food crop seeds required by the nation, we must ensure high germination rates, prevent mixing with other seeds, and minimize pests and diseases. Although there are many challenges due to recent abnormal weather conditions, including crop management, pest and disease control, and weed removal, we will do our utmost to produce high-quality seeds."