The sowing period has passed... Due to frequent rain, the normal yield rate for Taean garlic is below 5%.

(Taean=Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Yun-deok = Despite the sowing season having passed, frequent rains have caused the planting rate of garlic in Taean, Chungnam, a major garlic producing area in South Korea, to fall below 5%.

According to the Taean County Agricultural Technology Center, the sowing season for hardneck garlic is usually late September to early October.

However, from the 1st of last month to the 12th of this month, the number of rainy days was 24 (12 last year), and the amount of precipitation was 464 mm (372 mm last year), leaving almost no days to conduct plowing or sowing operations.

If sowing is delayed, the growth of roots and leaves may not be sufficient, increasing the likelihood of frost damage in winter, and there is also a high risk of disease and pest infestation.

If the sowing period is delayed until the end of this month, next year's harvest could decrease by 5 to 30% compared to an average year.

An official from the Agricultural Technology Center said, "Farmers need to store the cut seed garlic in a dry place and must disinfect it before sowing," and "After sowing, it is necessary to cover the area with non-woven fabric or plastic to prevent frost damage and to sufficiently supply the necessary nutrients for growth."