(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yoon-gu = The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will conduct a detailed investigation starting from today to analyze the current status and causes of the rice false smut disease that has occurred mainly along the coasts of South Jeolla and North Jeolla Provinces and in the Chungnam region.
Over the past 10 years, the rice false smut disease has occurred on an average of 16,000 hectares (1 hectare = 10,000 square meters) annually across the country, but as of the 16th of this month, it has been confirmed on 30,000 hectares.
Rice false smut disease causes dark brown lesions resembling sesame seeds on the leaves in its early stages, and in severe cases, dark brown spots form on the rice grains, leading to a decline in rice quality and other damages.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, together with the Rural Development Administration, will check the control situation of the false smut disease and analyze weather conditions such as temperature and precipitation, as well as soil composition.
The investigation results will be reviewed to decide whether to recognize it as an agricultural disaster and provide recovery funds within this month.
ykim@yna.co.kr