[Agricultural Fisheries and Livestock Newspaper=Reporter Park Yu-sin] Damage from rice false smut disease is recognized as an agricultural disaster, and disaster relief funds will be provided. Based on the review results of the Agricultural Disaster Countermeasures Deliberation Committee held on the 14th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs decided to recognize rice false smut disease caused by extreme heat in July and August and frequent rainfall last month as an agricultural disaster and to conduct a damage survey. As of the 1st, rice false smut disease has occurred in approximately 36,000 hectares nationwide, including 13,000 hectares in South Jeolla Province, 7,800 hectares in South Chungcheong Province, 7,300 hectares in North Gyeongsang Province, 4,400 hectares in North Jeolla Province, and 3,500 hectares in other areas. Rice false smut disease initially causes dark brown lesions resembling sesame seeds on the leaves and becomes severe.