Gijang County, Busan Launches Proactive Pest and Disease Control in Response to Climate Change

Strengthening Monitoring and On-Site Technical Support from the Start of the Year
All-Out Efforts to Minimize Crop Damage

Gijang County (Governor Jung Jongbok) has established a pest and disease control and on-site agricultural technology support plan to reduce crop damage caused by climate change, and has begun proactive measures from the beginning of the year.

Last year, an official from the Gijang County Agricultural Technology Center visited cabbage farms to inspect the growth conditions. Provided by Gijang County

This decision comes as the county has observed that increasingly frequent abnormal weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and heavy rainfall have led to more complex patterns of pest and disease outbreaks, as well as unpredictable issues like crop physiological disorders. Gijang County plans to further strengthen pest and disease monitoring and expand tailored on-site technical support for farms to minimize damage.

This year’s key initiatives include: ▲ Regular monitoring of nationally managed, invasive, and sporadic pests and diseases ▲ Rotational monitoring of rice crop pests and diseases ▲ Intensive management of major quarantine pests and diseases such as fire blight in fruit trees and eggplant bacterial wilt ▲ Precise diagnosis of frequently occurring pests and diseases such as thrips and whiteflies.

The county also plans to improve the accuracy and speed of monitoring by using scientific farming equipment such as diagnostic kits and microscopes, in addition to on-site visual inspections.

Alongside pest and disease response, technical support for issues encountered in the field will also be strengthened. When problems arise related to soil conditions, crop growth, cultivation environments, or physiological disorders, investigations and analyses will be conducted through on-site visits. If the issue cannot be resolved internally, systematic support will be provided in cooperation with specialized organizations such as the Rural Development Administration.

Gijang County will operate a pest and disease monitoring and control team, expanding on-site activities in areas with frequent outbreaks and major crop complexes. The county also plans to prevent the spread of pests and diseases in advance by sharing information and collaborating with related agencies.

Governor Jung Jongbok stated, "As climate change rapidly alters the agricultural environment, concerns about farming damage are increasing," adding, "We will provide practical support to farmers through systematic pest and disease monitoring and customized on-site technical assistance."