Hwasun County Council Industry and Construction Committee Discusses Response to Rice Bakanae Disease

Meeting on Public Stockpiled Rice Purchase Measures

The Industry and Construction Committee of the Hwasun County Council in South Jeolla Province, chaired by Cho Sehyun, held a meeting at 2 p.m. on the 14th in the council's small conference room to discuss measures against rice bakanae disease damage and the purchase plan for 2025 public stockpiled rice.

The Industry and Construction Committee of the Hwasun County Council held a meeting on the 14th at 2 p.m. in the council's small conference room to discuss measures against rice blast disease damage and the purchase plan for 2025 public stockpiled rice. Provided by Hwasun County Council

During the meeting, relevant officials, including the director of the Agricultural Technology Center and the head of the Agricultural Policy Division, reported on the current damage status and the government’s rice procurement plans. The committee focused on thoroughly reviewing practical and effective support measures that can be tangibly felt by those in the field.

Ryu Changsu, Director of the Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "Bakanae disease has occurred on 1,209 hectares, about 28% of the total rice cultivation area (4,201 hectares) in Hwasun County. The outbreak began more than 20 days earlier than usual this year, and the affected area has more than doubled compared to previous years."

He added, "A total of 857 million won in support for disease control is being promoted. Going forward, we plan to strengthen on-site training in areas such as post-harvest soil fertility improvement, seed disinfection, fertilizer application, and water management, as well as preventive control before and after heading."

Choi Hongnam, Head of the Agricultural Policy Division, reported the 2025 purchase plan, including the amount of public stockpiled rice to be purchased, the purchase period, and the allocation for each township. This year, Hwasun County’s public stockpiled rice purchase volume is 5,611 tons (4,420 tons of conventional rice and 1,191 tons of eco-friendly rice), with the procurement focusing on the Saecheongmu and Sindongjin varieties.

On this day, the government officially recognized bakanae disease as an agricultural disaster and announced a comprehensive support plan.

Chairman Cho Sehyun stated, "Since the government has responded swiftly, it is essential to establish prompt and thorough measures to ensure that all affected farmers receive support without omission." He instructed the rapid identification of damage at the township level, the establishment of a management system to prevent any omissions, and the advance review of necessary funding and administrative procedures.

During the meeting, committee members raised various questions regarding the applicability of disaster insurance and additional support measures. In response, the executive branch stated that damage assessment and support would be carried out promptly, and that the necessary budget and additional actions would be provided in a timely manner to reduce the actual burden on farmers.

Chairman Cho Sehyun emphasized, "What matters most is not desk-bound administration, but effective support that can be truly felt in the field," stressing the need for ongoing cooperation between the council and the executive branch.