'Rice blast disease' rapidly spreading···"Missed the golden time" urging for a full survey before harvest

"Once the rice is harvested, it will be impossible to investigate the damage. An immediate on-site survey must be conducted now to assess the damage and prepare countermeasures." As concerns grow over the nationwide spread of rice blast disease, the demand for countermeasures has increased. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it has begun a detailed investigation to assess the damage and analyze the causes, starting from the 1st. However, there is a strong call from the field for an urgent full-scale survey before the full-scale harvest begins after the Chuseok holiday, to come up with plans for purchasing and support measures. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, over the past 10 years, rice blast disease has occurred on an average of about 16,000 hectares nationwide each year, but as of September 16 this year, it has surged to 29,700 hectares nationwide (13,300 hectares in Jeonnam, 7,000 hectares in ...