(Jeonju=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Jin-bang = The Rural Development Administration's KOPIA (Overseas Agricultural Technology Development Business) Mongolia Center announced on the 29th that it has achieved the first success in cultivating rice by planting domestic varieties in Mongolia.
The Rural Development Administration has been conducting the 'Mongolia-adapted Rice Cultivation Technology Development Project' at the KOPIA Mongolia Center since 2023 at the request of the Mongolian government.
Mongolia has attempted rice cultivation several times over the past 40 years since the 1980s, including the introduction of overseas technology and self-cultivation tests, but failed due to the lack of experts and cultivation technology.
The KOPIA Mongolia Center conducted an analysis of the Mongolian environment and a selection test for suitable rice varieties, and in January of this year, established a 3,500㎡ rice test field in Bulgan County, Khovd Province.
Mongolia has a very short period during which rice can grow due to its low temperatures, and its soil is alkaline with a high pH, making it unsuitable for rice cultivation.
Therefore, the KOPIA Mongolia Center selected three domestic varieties (Jinbuolbyeo, Jinbubyeo, Asemil) and one Chinese variety that can be planted late and harvested early, and conducted test cultivation. Among them, the cultivation of Jinbuolbyeo was successful.
The Rural Development Administration plans to establish standard cultivation technology suitable for the Mongolian environment in the future. It also plans to publish and disseminate the 'Mongolia-adapted Rice Cultivation Technology Manual' based on the results of the cultivation test research.
Zambalchuren, Deputy Minister of the Mongolian Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, said, "The success of rice cultivation by the KOPIA Mongolia Center is of great significance at the national level" and "The relevant agencies of the two countries will cooperate to expand the scale of rice cultivation for rice production in the future."
Kim Hwan-yong, Director of the Technology Cooperation Division of the Rural Development Administration, said, "We will actively support the cultivation and production of rice in Mongolia through the KOPIA Mongolia Center" and "We will do our best to contribute to the development of Mongolian agriculture and promote the export of various domestic agricultural materials."