Hampyeong County in Jeollanam-do is promoting a field-customized support project to produce high-quality strawberries and increase farmers' income. The photo shows the release of stingless bees in the strawberry fields. Provided by Hampyeong County, Jeollanam-do.
On October 23, Hampyeong County in Jeollanam-do announced that it will implement a field-customized support project to produce high-quality strawberries and increase farmers' income.
The Hampyeong County Agricultural Technology Center is piloting two initiatives for strawberry growers: the Rural Development Administration's National Institute of Agricultural Sciences' "Bee Loss Response Alternative Pollination Technology Project" and the county-funded "Facility and Greenhouse Fruit Tyvek Project."
The "Bee Loss Response Alternative Pollination Technology Pilot Project" is being promoted to address poor pollination caused by the recent sharp decline in honeybee populations due to climate change and the spread of pests and diseases.
The county is using bumblebees to ensure stable fruit set, thereby preventing a decrease in strawberry yields and supporting the production of high-quality fruit. In addition, the "Facility and Greenhouse Fruit Tyvek Pilot Project" was provided to two sites of the Hampyeong County Strawberry Research Association, covering a total area of 3.7 hectares. Tyvek is a reflective nonwoven fabric installed on the sides of strawberry beds inside greenhouses, which helps sunlight reach the fruit evenly, resulting in improved sugar content and enhanced coloration.
The county expects that this support will help stably improve strawberry quality even during periods of insufficient sunlight in winter, laying the foundation for high-quality strawberry production.
Moon Jeongmo, Director of the Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "This pilot project aims to secure stable income and improve productivity for strawberry growers in response to abnormal weather conditions. Moving forward, we will enhance the competitiveness of Hampyeong strawberries by focusing on field-oriented technology dissemination and supporting the foundation for smart agriculture."
County Governor Lee Sangik said, "Farmers' income is the vitality of the region. We will do our best to ensure that Hampyeong strawberries are recognized as the highest quality nationwide by strengthening the dissemination of climate-adaptive agricultural technology and on-site support."
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