(Sejong=Yonhap News) Reporter Song Jeong = This year, the production of chili peppers and highland potatoes has decreased compared to last year.
According to the '2025 Production Survey Results for Chili Peppers, Sesame, and Highland Potatoes' released by the National Data Office (formerly the Statistics Office) on the 21st, this year's chili pepper production was 61,000 tons, a 9.7% decrease from last year.
The Data Office explained that this was due to frequent rains after August, which caused the harvest to end earlier than last year, and an increase in damage from diseases and pests.
The cultivation area for chili peppers continues to decrease due to the aging of the rural population and an increase in the cost of chili pepper production.
This year's chili pepper cultivation area was 25,743 hectares, a 2.6% decrease from last year, marking the smallest area ever.
The production of highland potatoes was 114,000 tons, a 9.6% decrease from last year.
It was analyzed that the cultivation area decreased due to abnormal high temperatures during the main harvest period (August-September) in Gangwon's Yeongseo region last year, and the production per 10 ares also decreased due to high temperatures and lack of rainfall during the growth period (June-July) in Gangwon's Yeongseo region.
Sesame production was recorded at 11,000 tons, a 20.4% increase from last year.
The cultivation area increased by 2.3% from last year due to the rise in sesame prices during the sowing period (March-May).
It was analyzed that the production per 10 ares also increased due to abundant sunlight and favorable weather conditions during the flowering and fruiting period (July-August) compared to last year.
sje@yna.co.kr