Less Water, Better Taste:
Spotlight on Climate-Resilient Rice Varieties
Boryeong Mayor Dongil Kim is harvesting Barami2, known for its chewy rice texture, on the 25th. Photo by Boryeong City Hall
Boryeong City in South Chungcheong Province has become the first in the nation to harvest the ultra-early rice variety 'Ppareumi2,' opening up new possibilities for rice farming adapted to the era of climate crisis.
On July 25, Boryeong City held a demonstration event for harvesting Ppareumi2 in the fields of Cheongso-myeon, where the rice had withstood heavy rainfall and heatwaves.
More than 100 people attended the event, including officials from the Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services, Boryeong Agricultural Technology Center, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, and rice farmers.
'Ppareumi2' is an ultra-early maturing rice variety developed by the Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services, which has been crossbreeding domestic and overseas early-maturing varieties since 2009.
This variety can be harvested in about 80 days after transplanting. It is highly resistant to rice blast disease and has a low amylose content of around 11%, resulting in rice that is sticky and of excellent eating quality.
In addition, the required period for flooded cultivation is short, which allows for a reduction in agricultural water usage by 59.6% and methane gas emissions by 36.5% compared to general late-maturing rice varieties.
Due to its eco-friendliness and productivity, it was selected as an 'Outstanding Case of Climate Crisis Adaptation' by the Ministry of Environment in May.
Last year, Boryeong City became the first in the province to conduct pilot cultivation of Ppareumi2 on 6 hectares. This year, the cultivation area was expanded to 21 hectares.
The city plans to foster Ppareumi2 as a new source of income for farmers by enabling even earlier harvests and stable quality control.
Ppareumi2 will officially go on sale starting with a brand launch event at the Yangjae Nonghyup Hanaro Club in Seoul in early August, followed by distribution through major supermarkets and well-known online shopping malls.
Mayor Kim Dongil stated, "Ppareumi2 is a variety that can produce high-quality rice while reducing labor, water usage, and methane emissions, making it possible to achieve both carbon neutrality and food security." He added, "We will work to expand cultivation so that it contributes to the premiumization of the new rice market and strengthens the competitiveness of local agriculture."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
