Hampyeong County Establishes Munonjeompa Direct-Seeding Rice Complexes to Reduce Production Costs

Photo of the field where Munonjeompa is cultivated. Provided by Hampyeong County.

Hampyeong County in South Jeolla Province is actively introducing new technologies to ease the burden on rice farmers who are facing a dual challenge of labor shortages during the busy farming season and high production costs.

According to Hampyeong County on June 15, the county has recently established a total of 132.5 hectares of Munonjeompa direct-seeding rice cultivation complexes, including a 24.5-hectare "Comprehensive Technology Model Demonstration Complex for Reducing Rice Production Costs" in the areas of Eomdamyeon and Hakgyomyeon, as well as a 108-hectare "Powdered Rice Direct-Seeding Production Complex."

Korea's rice industry has reached its limits in securing international market competitiveness due to high production costs relative to prices. In particular, the labor shortage during the busy farming season has compounded difficulties for farmers, intensifying their hardships.

To address these challenges faced by farmers, the county is actively introducing newly developed technologies such as direct seeding and sparse transplanting, taking the lead in reducing rice production costs and alleviating labor shortages during peak farming periods.

The Munonjeompa technology involves sowing seeds directly into the paddy field without separate seedling raising or transplanting processes, which can significantly reduce labor requirements. As a result, it is gaining attention as a suitable alternative for rural areas struggling with aging populations and labor shortages.

Lee Yongbeom, CEO of the agricultural corporation Suhwajeong, said, "Previously, managing rice seedlings and transplanting required a lot of time and money, but with the introduction of this new Munonjeompa direct-seeding technology, we have been able to reduce management costs and make farming easier, so I am very satisfied."

Moon Jeongmo, director of the Agricultural Technology Center, said, "The Munonjeompa direct-seeding rice cultivation technology is highly effective in reducing production costs and labor by addressing the shortcomings of conventional direct seeding. We will actively expand and distribute these new technologies to support farmers struggling with rural aging and labor shortages."